A Mason's Work

Brian Mattocks
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In this show we discuss the practical applications of masonic symbolism and how the working tools can be used to better yourself, your family, your lodge, and your community. We help good freemasons become better men through honest self development. We talk quite a bit about mental health and men's issues related to emotional and intellectual growth as well.

  1. 22 HR AGO

    The Secretary Series: The Systemic Level (The Architecture of Change)

    This episode explores the Secretary function as a critical data engine for organizational health, illustrating how honest record-keeping serves as the foundation for troubleshooting and optimizing complex systems. High-Value Quotables [00:11] "The quality of the data you collect, the quality of the records that you have really indicates effectively how much you can optimize and improve an environment." [00:59] "What gets measured gets managed... By collecting the right kind of data in the right way, you effectively gain enough insights to meaningfully move the conversation forward." [01:41] "The secretary should be given—here's the kind of data we need to collect as a function—and provide some level of the analysis of that data, but not own the fix." [03:17] "This is why things like logbooks and diary entries and journal entries are admitted in a court of law because they are kept in the moment of the event... recorded at the time of." The Core Concept: Data as an Anchor for Integrity At the systemic level, the Secretary is the "architect of behavior change". By providing accurate, honest data over time, this function allows for meaningful diagnostics that would otherwise be impossible. To maintain systemic integrity, records must be kept "in the moment" to prevent the natural human tendency to rewrite history or shift context as time passes. Key Takeaways: The Optimization Engine: Quality records are the primary indicator of how much an environment can be improved; without them, troubleshooting is "much, much, much harder".Separation of Concerns: The Secretary provides the data and analysis but should not "own the fix"—blaming the person who brings the data is a common corporate failure.Checking the Sting: Leadership must manage their own emotional response when systemic data does not conform to their expectations.Sequence and Factual Integrity: Records like logbooks hold weight because they are kept in a sequence and recorded at the time of the event, preserving integrity.Future-Proofing: The data we choose to collect today is exactly what future versions of ourselves will be forced to focus on; choosing the wrong data fails to enable our future.Reflection Question: Are you currently collecting the "wrong data" just because it’s easy, or are you collecting the specific data that your future self will need to solve your organization's biggest problems?  Thanks to our monthly supporters Tim Dedman Jorge ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

    7 min

  2. 1 DAY AGO

    The Secretary Series: The Relational Level (Collective Memory)

    In this episode, we explore the Secretary as the custodian of a group's shared history, highlighting the power of selective recording and the importance of acknowledging individual contributions within the collective record. High-Value Quotables [00:00] "The secretary in a relational level is the person who's going to be working to create that collective record, that mutual understanding of what's important and worth committing to the collective memory of the organization." [01:52] "The memory keeper role is the person who's carrying that collective understanding of the past culture." [03:30] "Note everyone's contributions as they are relevant to the overall objective... try and note everyone's individual nuanced understanding of how they can influence the organization." [04:23] "If somebody provided a valuable contribution and you called them up by name... they will perk up for listens and mentions of their name in future meeting minutes." The Core Concept: The Custodian of Past Culture While the Guide looks toward the future, the Secretary carries the collective understanding of the past. In a relational context, this role is an editorial one—deciding what strife to omit for the sake of outcomes and what hostile interactions must be recorded to protect the organization's integrity. Key Takeaways: The Editorial Process: A Secretary must decide what is worth committing to memory, sometimes ignoring minor strife to focus on achieved outcomes.Recording Hostility: Consistently hostile behavior should be part of the record to help the group determine if an individual remains appropriate for the "loop".Guidance for the Function: Leadership should set clear intentions for what a "good job" looks like for the Secretary before the recording begins.The Power of Names: Including specific names and individual contributions in the minutes transforms a "boring" administrative task into a tool for meaningful engagement and validation.Projecting the Future: By correctly encapsulating history, the Secretary provides the data needed to project future cultural variations and changes.Reflection Question: How would the engagement in your organization change if the "boring" minutes specifically celebrated the unique strengths each member brought to the table? Thanks to our monthly supporters Tim Dedman Jorge ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

    7 min

  3. 2 DAYS AGO

    The Secretary Series: The Behavioral Level (Patterns and Repetitions)

    This episode focuses on how the Secretary function allows us to analyze our own behavior by identifying the repeating patterns and historical context within our personal records.  High-Value Quotables [00:22] "When we're recording honestly, we can start to look across the things we have learned or the experiences we've had and articulate patterns and repetitions." [01:39] "The memories that you have, regardless of how much you've tried to cultivate them in a open and honest way or in a factual way, are always going to be, uh, imperfect. They are recorded by a mind, the mind of the time." [02:26] "The emotional content that accompanies those memories that you recorded when you were a child... very likely is something that, uh, sort of no longer meaningfully applies." [05:00] "You begin the process of being able to create useful data for future versions of you that need this kind of support." The Core Concept: Analyzing the "Mind of the Time" Behaviorally, the Secretary provides the data necessary to recognize recurring patterns in our lives. It requires us to understand that our memories are "imperfect" because they were encoded by the "mind of the time"—often a younger, less experienced version of ourselves. By stripping away old emotional content and rationalizations, we can reprocess these memories into useful data for our future selves.  Key Takeaways: Identifying Repetitions: Honest recording is the first step toward analyzing behaviors and articulating where you are repeating the same lessons. The Child Secretary: Recognizing that a memory from childhood was encoded with the limited capacity and insights of a child, meaning the associated emotional "sting" may no longer be relevant. Stripping the Narrative: To solve a current problem, work backwards to strip off unnecessary ego perspectives and rationalizations. Useful Data for the Future: By separating "what happened" from "what I felt," you create a reliable database for future decision-making. Reflection Question: If you looked at your life's "minutes" today, what behavioral patterns would you see repeating over the last five years? Thanks to our monthly supporters Tim Dedman Jorge ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

    7 min

  4. 3 DAYS AGO

    The Secretary Series: The Recorder of Memory

    This episode kicks off a focus on the Secretary role, reframing it from a purely administrative job to a deep psychological function: the ability to process experience by separating factual data from emotional charge. High-Value Quotables [01:12] "When you take the role of secretary, one of the things that you promise to do is to keep an accurate recording of the proceeds of a meeting... only those things that were fit to be recorded for posterity's sake." [01:41] "We're really talking about the ability to retain and recall information that is appropriate and useful and free of the emotional language that oftentimes comes with our own memories." [02:05] "The secretary is the recorder of memory... This is also a role that you're going to want to step into on a regular basis when you are trying to diagnose and troubleshoot something that may be going on in your world." [04:14] "Across the broad swath of your memories and your recollections... they are very likely recorded both with factual content, as you saw it at the time, as well as with emotional content, which you're going to benefit from removing." The Core Concept: Working with the "Inner Secretary" The Secretary function represents our ability to record "what actually happened" in a way that remains useful for the future. By viewing the Secretary as a "recorder of memory," we can learn to strip away the "emotional content" that often distorts our past, allowing us to see facts clearly and troubleshoot our lives with greater objectivity. Key Takeaways: Posterity and Fitness: The Secretary doesn't record everything; they record what is "fit to be recorded" for the sake of future use.Separating Facts from Feelings: Memories are often encoded in a high emotional state (frustration, agitation), which makes recalling the event trigger that same emotion.Troubleshooting the Past: By taking the emotional "charge" off of an event, you stop interpreting history through a lens of anger or helplessness.Fertile Territory: Working with your "inner secretary" is one of the best ways to navigate problems in your own mind or within a room.Reflection Question: If you stripped the "emotional charge" away from your most frustrating recent memory, what facts would remain on the page?  Thanks to our monthly supporters Tim Dedman Jorge ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

    7 min

  5. 6 DAYS AGO

    The Guide Series Episode 5: Reflections on the Guide Process

    In the final installment of the Guide series, we move from systemic theory to personal experience, illustrating the profound impact of effective mentorship and the pitfalls of failing to adapt to a candidate's needs. High-Value Quotables [00:15] "I love helping to cultivate and craft that experience for the man that helps them grab on and get involved and get engaged." [01:22] "Man, I felt like I had just won the Superbowl when he was able to execute that opening charge and... go sit down with the comfort and confidence that he was able to rise to that occasion." [01:55] "I've had folks, you know, try to tell me what to do, which is quite a bit different than being guided." [05:23] "I would recommend you take a moment and express your gratitude to those brethren... because you don't know, you really don't know if they know how much they helped you along the way." The Core Concept: The Reward of Cultivating Others Refining the guide process is about more than ritual; it is about the "nurturing and encouragement" that comes from helping a brother find the path that is right for them. When done well, the guide feels a deep, vicarious success—like "winning the Superbowl"—when a mentee gains the confidence to execute their duties. Key Takeaways: Cultivation vs. Command: Guidance is about crafting an experience that helps a man "come alive," rather than simply telling them what to do.Adaptability in the Field: Effective guiding requires managing "cadence issues" and physical or mental limitations, as illustrated by the "janky boot" anecdote.Relational Strength: The relationship between the guide and the guided is a unique bond that has the potential to "stand a test of time".A Culture of Gratitude: Recognizing and thanking those who have provided "meaningful care" is vital, as they may not realize the extent of their impact.Systemic Legacy: The guide process is "super connected," linking the past efforts of masters to the future successes of new initiates.Reflection Question: Who in your life has guided you in a way that truly made you "come alive," and have you taken the time to tell them?  Thanks to our monthly supporters Tim Dedman Jorge ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

    7 min

  6. 5 FEB

    The Guide Series Episode 4: The Systemic Level

    This episode zooms out to the organizational level, examining how the function of the Guide creates the infrastructure for accessibility, risk management, and systemic health within a Lodge or any complex group. High-Value Quotables [00:11] "The guide at a systemic level is the definition of on-ramps and accessibility." [01:39] "The on-ramps and off-ramps between these functions, between these people, between organizations is all part of the domain of the guide." [02:33] "The guide is that measurement function that says, 'Hey, these systems that are our intention, I'm noticing that this one's starting to kind of run in the red.'" [03:23] "Without being able to look at an organization from that guide perspective, that ego-free analysis and awareness perspective... you effectively can't lead." The Core Concept: Architecture of Accessibility At a systemic level, the Guide is responsible for creating "on-ramps"—opportunities for everyone to engage with the work on equal footing, regardless of their background or specific capabilities. This role functions as an ego-free analytical tool that monitors the health and capacity of the entire "machine". Key Takeaways: Defining On-Ramps: Ensuring that talent and insight aren't "locked behind different abilities," such as language barriers or cultural accents.The Measurement Function: Monitoring organizational "load" to identify when a process is "running in the red" and needs to be dialed back.Ego-Free Leadership: True systemic leadership is the ability to look at an organization's capacity relative to its environment and obstacles without personal bias.Knowing the Equipment: Effective systemic guidance is like a skilled driver knowing the exact dimensions of their vehicle to navigate narrow clearances at speed.Enabling the Impossible: When organizational systems are fluid and well-guided, groups of men can achieve objectives that seem otherwise impossible.Reflection Question: Where in your organization is a "PhD-level scholar" being left by the wayside simply because there isn't an accessible on-ramp for their specific perspective?  Thanks to our monthly supporters Tim Dedman Jorge ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

    6 min

  7. 4 FEB

    The Guide Series Episode 3: The Relational Level

    This episode explores the guide role in the context of our relationships, focusing on how to support others through adversity without overstepping or "lifting the stone" for them. High-Value Quotables [00:46] "As a guide, [you must] hyper focus on the people that you are trying to help." [01:58] "One moment of careful noticing someone else's needs relative to the adversities that they're facing can be the life-saving or life-changing moment that a good guide is capable of." [02:43] "You cannot do the work for someone else. You can help them make the work manageable. You can give them the emotional support required... but you cannot lift the stone for them." [04:22] "That spotlight, that attention, is all in a very almost socratic kind of way where you ask the right questions so that the solutions emerge." The Core Concept: Nurturing Growth through Adversity Relational guiding is the act of noticing the specific needs and comfort levels of others to help them navigate challenging or "risky" situations. It requires dropping the ego to ensure the "spotlight" remains entirely on the person being guided rather than the guide themselves. Key Takeaways: Empathy and Risk Tolerance: A guide must recognize that every individual has a different comfort level and personal risk tolerance.The "Gym" Philosophy: You can encourage someone to take on bigger challenges, but you can't "go to the gym and lift the weights" on their behalf.Creating Safety: Meaningful guiding provides the emotional support and trust necessary for an individual to take risks themselves.Socratic Architecture: A good guide "architects solutions" by asking the right questions, allowing the student to discover their own strength and agility.Lifelong Bonds: These collaborative experiences of shared risk and mentoring are where true fraternity and robust relationships emerge.Reflection Question: When was the last time you "lifted the stone" for someone when you should have been helping them find the strength to lift it themselves? Thanks to our monthly supporters Tim Dedman Jorge ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

    8 min

  8. 3 FEB

    The Guide Series Episode 2: The Behavioral Level (Guiding the Self)

    This episode shifts the lens inward, exploring how the function of the Guide can be applied to our own internal "headspace" to navigate personal struggles and behavioral changes. High-Value Quotables [01:00] "When we talk about the guide, we're talking for ourselves about extending that care and concern to note well when we are stumbling and struggling and alter our path." [01:30] "The guide is not an education role... The guide's responsibility is essentially to notice the situation, evaluate the path you're taking... and know whether or not those are helping you achieve your objectives." [03:13] "The guide really does not offer a meaningful judgment. That function just evaluates the situation. It is like an awareness function." [04:13] "Conduct a little bit of like a risk analysis, like, 'Hey, am I doing something right now that represents a high risk behavior? And will that undermine my objectives long-term?'" The Core Concept: Internalized Awareness Guiding yourself involves using the "Guide function" to observe your own choices and behaviors that may seem mysterious or even unhealthy. It is not about harsh self-discipline or "smacking the donut out of your hand," but rather about observing when a strategy isn't working and compassionate course correction. Key Takeaways: Care and Concern: Extending the same empathy we show a Brother in the Lodge to our own mental and emotional struggles.Awareness without Judgment: The Guide acts as an observer that evaluates a situation objectively rather than providing moral judgment.Evaluating Alternatives: Observing if a current path aligns with your long-term objectives and adjusting the "course of travel" to match.Internal Risk Analysis: Recognizing high-risk behaviors and understanding their potential to undermine your personal growth.Reflection Question: In what area of your life could you benefit from being a "compassionate observer" rather than a "harsh judge"?  Thanks to our monthly supporters Tim Dedman Jorge ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

    7 min
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About

In this show we discuss the practical applications of masonic symbolism and how the working tools can be used to better yourself, your family, your lodge, and your community. We help good freemasons become better men through honest self development. We talk quite a bit about mental health and men's issues related to emotional and intellectual growth as well.

Information

  • Creator
    Brian Mattocks
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    219
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2023 Brian Mattocks
  • Show Website
    A Mason's Work

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