The Grounded Man

John Douglas
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 The Grounded Man Podcast by Deru is for hardworking men building businesses, carrying responsibility, and providing for their families — who feel they should be freer.  The world has changed, and leading through hard work and long hours now limits a man’s influence.  Deru is changing how leaders lead - from the inside out. It's a way to carry the load without constant pressure - so you can enjoy what you’re building, and still have energy for life!

  1. 3d ago

    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 next Grounded Man Hike in Glendalough and explains why community, clarity, challenge, and celebration are at the heart of the experience. Interested in joining our next Grounded Man Hike? Click here for more: https://www.derunation.com/TGM-Hike 00:01:04 — The Grounded Man Hike 00:03:06 — What Are You Carrying? 00:04:20 — Letting Go at the Summit 00:05:19 — The Next Hike 00:06:45 — Who It’s For 00:08:23 — Community, Clarity & Challenge 00:11:03 — What to Expect 00:14:13 — Join the Next Hike

  2. Aug 12

    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 helped him step away from the constant grind, think more strategically, and create more space for the things that matter most. They also discuss trust versus control, why we tend to push harder when things get difficult, building a stronger culture within a business, and how coaching and accountability can help you become a better leader. Want to connect with Sam Harte and learn more about Harte Outdoor Lighting? Connect with Sam on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sam-harte/ Explore Harte Outdoor Lighting: https://www.harteoutdoorlighting.ie/ Interested in joining our next Grounded Man Hike? Click here for more: https://www.derunation.com/TGM-Hike 00:01:12 — Meet Sam Harte 00:05:22 — Finding Purpose Beyond the Daily Grind 00:08:17 — Finding Growth in Hard Times 00:10:41 — Control vs Trust 00:14:24 — You Are Not Your Thoughts 00:16:41 — Finding Presence in Everyday Life 00:21:14 — The Leadership Hour 00:26:28 — Energy and Better Results 00:27:53 — Working On the Business, Not In It 00:31:50 — Building a High-Performance Culture 00:35:16 — Building a Life Around Family 00:36:17 — Redefining Success 00:40:20 — Why We Double Down Under Pressure 00:45:18 — Coaching and Accountability 00:50:31 — The Grounded Man Hike

  3. Aug 4

    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, why not trusting your team is really about not trusting yourself, and who you are when you're not the hardest worker in the room. Growing your business — and freedom — by growing your people. If you'd like to connect with likeminded business owners to see how they are leading others better and with more freedom, attend the next Grounded Man Hike. Click here for more: https://www.derunation.com/TGM-Hike Timestamps: 00:00 — Intro: welcome to The Grounded Man 00:54 — Why delegation keeps landing back on your desk, half-done 03:36 — It eats at your ambition — the cost of downsizing to escape people problems 06:58 — Business is 90% people — so growth means growing people 08:50 — From manager of tasks to leader of people 11:21 — Not trusting others is really not trusting yourself 14:45 — Treating your business like a forest, not a machine 21:04 — This week's question: where do you need to develop people more?

  4. Jul 29

    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 leadership alignment can help the business start running without everything revolving around you. Interested in joining our next Grounded Man Hike? Click here for more: https://www.derunation.com/TGM-Hike 00:01:05 — Working On the Business 00:02:30 — The Knowing-Doing Gap 00:04:20 — When the Old Way Stops Working 00:08:15 — Stop Being the Fixer 00:10:15 — Creating Space to Think 00:12:10 — Letting Go of Control 00:14:20 — Choosing What Is Important 00:15:40 — Building Your Leadership Team 00:18:20 — Working on the Bigger Picture 00:21:30 — The Grounded Man Hike

  5. Jul 22

    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 feels perfect before you lead the conversation. Interested in joining our next Grounded Man Hike? Click here for more: https://www.derunation.com/TGM-Hike 00:01:00 — Why Communication Matters 00:03:05 — Clarity, Conciseness, and Consistency 00:04:05 — Why They Still Do Not Get It 00:06:05 — Bringing Vision Into the Conversation 00:09:40 — The Cost of Misalignment 00:11:05 — Seeing Yourself as the Visionary 00:14:00 — Sharing the Vision Means Sharing Yourself 00:15:35 — Letting Go of People-Pleasing 00:18:10 — The Leadership Alignment Workshop

  6. Jul 15

    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 holding on to outcomes in business. Together, they talk about letting go of what you cannot control, staying grounded in gratitude, building a business without losing yourself, and learning to define success from the inside out. Interested in joining our next Grounded Man Hike? Click here for more: https://www.derunation.com/TGM-Hike  00:00:42 — Welcome to The Grounded Man Podcast 00:01:20 — Meet Barry Finnegan 00:05:35 — Walking at Lough Crew 00:09:30 — Barry’s Health Wake-Up Call 00:15:30 — Letting Go of the Outcome 00:17:30 — Gratitude and Control 00:20:20 — Talking Through Problems 00:24:00 — Taking Personal Responsibility 00:27:20 — Finding Balance Again 00:30:55 — Defining Success from Within 00:34:10 — Inner Pride and Daily Action 00:40:15 — Advice for Men Under Pressure 00:42:45 — The Grounded Man Hike

  7. Jul 8

    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 more on the Deru approach to leadership from the inside out, visit https://www.derunation.com/TGM-Hike  00:01:04 — When There’s Never Enough Time 00:03:00 — Amazon vs. Rolex and Ferrari 00:06:25 — The Signs You Have a Problem with Time 00:08:35 — Stop Chasing Success 00:10:14 — What Really Built Your Business 00:13:20 — Letting Go of Proving Yourself 00:16:15 — The Hierarchy of Waste 00:20:10 — The Three Buckets of Work 00:22:30 — Making the Hours Count 00:23:55 — The Grounded Man Hike

  8. Jul 1

    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 mindset into a more abundant way of leading yourself, your team, and your business.  For more on the Deru approach to leadership from the inside out, visit https://www.derunation.com/TGM-Hike  00:01:00 — Sales, Cash Flow, and Money Mindset 00:03:30 — Financial Pressure as a Symptom 00:05:30 — Money Is a Byproduct of Value 00:07:30 — Business Is About Solving Problems 00:10:30 — Seeing Money as a Tool 00:13:30 — Underpricing and Saying Yes to the Wrong Clients 00:16:00 — Lack of Financial Visibility 00:18:00 — Letting Go of Scarcity 00:20:00 — Giving Yourself Permission to Receive

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About

 The Grounded Man Podcast by Deru is for hardworking men building businesses, carrying responsibility, and providing for their families — who feel they should be freer.  The world has changed, and leading through hard work and long hours now limits a man’s influence.  Deru is changing how leaders lead - from the inside out. It's a way to carry the load without constant pressure - so you can enjoy what you’re building, and still have energy for life!

Information

  • Creator
    John Douglas
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    21
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Grounded Man
  • Show Website
    The Grounded Man

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