Podcast Summary
From Navy SEAL to Missouri Governor: Eric Greitens' Journey: Ancient Greek and Roman ideals of manliness inspire Eric Greitens to enter politics, despite no prior experience. His relatable message about resilience resonates with people, encouraging them to serve their communities and overcome challenges.
Eric Greitens, a former Navy SEAL, Rhodes Scholar, and humanitarian worker, defied the odds by running for and becoming the Governor of Missouri despite having no prior political experience. Greitens, who has a background in ancient philosophy and a dedication to service, saw running for office as a natural extension of his public service career. He believes that being active in the public sphere and providing service to the community is an essential part of manliness, as seen in ancient Greek and Roman ideals. Greitens' book, "Resilience," which he wrote before his political career, resonated with people due to its relatable message about moving through pain and suffering to build strength, wisdom, and courage. Despite the challenges of politics and being a young father, Greitens encourages listeners to get involved and throw their hat in the arena, regardless of political affiliation.
Creating one's vocation through action and service: The ancient Greeks believed in finding joy and fulfillment through service to others. Define your vocation by pushing yourself, challenging yourself, and addressing the world's needs.
Finding one's vocation or purpose in life is not something that is discovered, but rather created through action and service to others. The speaker, who has a diverse background including humanitarian work, military service, and entrepreneurship, emphasizes that the ancient Greeks understood this concept, and Reverend Peter Gomes defined vocation as the place where great joy meets the world's great need. He encourages people to push themselves, challenge themselves, and engage in actions that bring joy and fulfillment while also addressing the needs of the world. The speaker's own journey, from serving in the military to starting a foundation and running for governor, was not a predetermined path but rather a result of creating opportunities for himself to make a difference and grow as a person.
Lack of leadership during Ferguson protests: Individuals with outsider perspectives and a commitment to serve can make a difference in public office, even without prior experience.
During the Ferguson protests, the speaker witnessed a lack of leadership and guidance from authorities. This experience highlighted the need for individuals with outsider perspectives and a willingness to serve in public office. When deciding to run for governor, the speaker's wife, who was also committed to making a difference, fully supported the decision despite the challenges it would bring to their family. The speaker had a history of serving people and making a difference, and the issues facing Missouri resonated with him. Despite having no political experience, the speaker was determined to make a positive impact.
Making a difference in people's lives led Governor Greitens to enter politics: Despite being told his outsider status would hinder his campaign, Governor Greitens successfully ran for office by bringing people together through service projects and addressing issues like foster care and supporting national guards and law enforcement.
Governor Eric Greitens' motivation for entering politics was to make a difference in people's lives, particularly in areas like foster care and supporting national guards and law enforcement. He was initially told that his outsider status would make a successful campaign impossible, but he was surprised by the large number of people who became involved in his cause and volunteered for his campaign. Greitens believes that taking action to solve problems and bringing people together through service projects can help bridge ideological divides. An example of this was his experience with veterans, where service projects helped change perceptions and understanding between veterans and the general public. This approach has carried over into his governorship, as seen in his response to a cemetery desecration incident in St. Louis.
Leading through adversity: Effective leaders bring people together during challenging times to make a difference, inspired by ancient philosophers who emphasized the importance of role models and finding meaning in adversity.
Effective leadership involves bringing people together to serve and make a difference during challenging times. The governor in this story responded to vandalism in a cemetery by rallying thousands of people to clean and beautify it, demonstrating that such acts won't define their identity as Missourians. This approach is inspired by ancient philosophers who emphasized the importance of role models and finding meaning in adversity. By looking up to and learning from leaders like Marcus Aurelius, Teddy Roosevelt, and Winston Churchill, one can develop a leadership style that combines action and reflection, inspiring others to join in making a positive impact.
Navigating Challenges with Resilience and Perspective: Friends provide support and help keep things in perspective during tough times. Challenging oneself and actively creating oneself through personal growth are crucial for building resilience and maintaining perspective. Even those we view as heroes faced adversity and criticism, but pushed through to overcome challenges and become symbols of strength.
Building resilience and maintaining perspective are crucial for navigating life's challenges, as demonstrated by both the speaker's campaign experience and the example of Theodore Roosevelt. Friends provide essential support and help keep things in perspective during difficult times. Roosevelt's life serves as an inspiration, showing that even those we view as heroes had to work hard to overcome adversity and criticism. Both the speaker and Roosevelt emphasized the importance of challenging oneself and actively creating oneself through personal growth. Despite his early struggles and criticism, Roosevelt became a symbol of American manhood by pushing himself out of his comfort zone. Similarly, we all must learn to be brave and resilient, even if it doesn't come naturally.
Building Courage Through Challenges: Courage is not innate, it's built through facing fears and confronting challenges. Recognize opportunities to cultivate it in all aspects of life.
Courage is not something we are born with, but something we build through facing our fears and confronting challenges. The heavyweight champion of the world, despite his physical courage in the ring, was afraid to confront his gardener over a bill. This illustrates that we all have uneven courage and must push ourselves to build it in areas where we are fearful. Ancient philosophers believed in the power of individuals to shape their own character through practice, role models, and mentors. All aspects of our lives, public and private, reflect our character and the virtues we develop are essential in every role we play. Therefore, it is crucial to recognize that courage is a skill we can cultivate and that every encounter, no matter how small, is an opportunity to build it.
Facing criticism is a natural part of making a difference: Don't let fear of criticism stop you from serving your community, it's a natural feeling for those who make a difference.
If you want to make a difference and bring about change, be prepared to face criticism. This is a common experience for those who have made significant contributions throughout history, from Mother Teresa to George Washington. Fear of criticism should not deter young people from stepping into the arena and serving their communities. The ancient philosophers placed great emphasis on courage, recognizing that it is necessary to help others and fulfill one's duty. So, if you're feeling afraid of criticism or the scrutiny that comes with public service, remember that it's a natural feeling, but don't let it hold you back. Instead, find the courage to do hard things and serve others, knowing that you'll likely face critics along the way.
Effective leaders read for reflection and insights: Effective leaders make time for reflection through reading, particularly biographies, and lead from the front in times of crisis.
Effective leaders make time for both action and reflection. According to the speaker, reading, particularly biographies, can aid reflection and provide valuable insights. The speaker emphasizes the importance of frontline leadership and being present in times of crisis. Alexander the Great's biography, in particular, highlights the importance of leading from the front and being first among equals. The speaker applies this lesson in his role as a governor by visiting the front lines of emergencies and supporting those in need. In summary, making time for reflection through reading and leading from the front are essential components of effective leadership.
Governor Scott's Family Values: Governor Phil Scott prioritizes family time despite a busy schedule, inspired by his father's sacrifice. He recommends biographies based on personal goals and values the importance of quality family time.
Governor Phil Scott values the importance of being present for his family despite having a busy executive schedule. He recommends different biographies based on an individual's goals and aspirations. As a father himself, he shares how his own father's sacrifice inspired him to prioritize family time. Despite having young children and a demanding role, he makes it a priority to spend quality time with them every day, from reading books to putting them to bed. This reflects his belief that family time is essential and worth making sacrifices for.
The Art of Manliness Podcast with Governor Eric Rydens: The Importance of Community Involvement: Engage in your community, contribute unique abilities, and make a difference. Every action counts, we're stronger together.
According to Aristotle, politics is the art and science of creating and sustaining human communities. Everyone has something valuable to offer, and by challenging yourself to get engaged, you can contribute to the greater good. This doesn't necessarily mean getting involved in electoral politics, but rather finding a cause or issue that resonates with you and getting involved in a meaningful way. By doing so, you will not only make a difference in your community, but also strengthen it for all its members. So, if you're still on the fence about getting active in public life, take the first step and find a way to get involved. Your unique wisdom, experience, and abilities are needed. Governor Rydens also emphasized the importance of resilience and the value of continuing to serve others, even after leaving office. He encourages listeners to check out his books, Resilience and the Heart and the Fist, and to learn more about the foundation he started for veterans, The Mission Continues, at missioncontinues.org. In conclusion, the Art of Manliness Podcast with Governor Eric Rydens highlighted the importance of getting involved in your community, contributing your unique abilities, and finding ways to make a difference. Remember, every action counts and we are all stronger when we come together to support each other and create positive change.
