Topic: Initiation

Ben Price and Jonnie Jensen discuss the disappearance of traditional male initiation rites and the lack of guidance from elders in modern society. They critique the "attention economy" that targets both men and children with gadgets and digital distractions. Price expresses his passion for helping his own sons discover their identity early to avoid the long periods of searching he experienced.

While acknowledging the utility of military discipline and integrity, Ben Price argues against mandatory conscription as a fix for societal issues. Instead, he advocates for "conscious initiation," a deliberate process where men are taught what it means to be a man and how to handle life's stresses. He credits a personal coach with helping him elevate his own level of integrity and power.

Michael Serwa explains his process for vetting potential coaching clients through approximately 100 initial consultations per year. He looks for evidence of past execution, such as being a childhood sports champion, as an indicator of transferable work ethic and mindset. He asserts that the chemistry between coach and coachee is the critical factor for ensuring a successful transformation.

A distinction is made between project initiation strengths and the weakness of granular execution. Rather than struggling to improve fundamental weaknesses, the "Who Not How" principle suggests bringing in partners or team members whose strengths complement those gaps. This approach, mentored by George McGarren, emphasizes building a team to handle tasks that cause individual suffering or lack of enthusiasm.