Disclaimer: this episode contains opinions that are mine and may be offensive to others. While I do not care if a topic or opinion offends you (see here), I want to extend the courtesy of letting you know this may trigger you if you're afraid of hearing strong ideas about fitness, motivation, and complacency. Before I got married, I made a commitme…

I know I've touched on the role and importance of happiness before, but this time I'm kicking it up a notch with science to explore the truth about happiness. Not to be confused with it's apathetic cousin, contentment, happiness is about finding joy in the everyday, and letting it permeate into the tasks, trials, and takeaways of your everyday life…

The real estate market these days seems like a combination of fire and ice. As still as that sounds, some buyers and sellers are experiencing properties and transactions that are red hot deals, while others are getting iced with poor maintenance, missed opportunities, and bad decisions. So what does one look for when buying or selling a home? More …

In the last year, opportunity has shown up in a bunch of different spaces in my life. From relationships, friendships, travel, technology, and especially business ventures, it feels like opportunities are everywhere and I'd have to actively work to avoid them. It's a good feeling. But it's not like I didn't do some adjusting to get here. This is a …

When you're setting yourself up for success, you're probably aware (of have heard repeatedly) that the people you surround yourself with everyday have a direct impact on your trajectory. The right people can help you feel powerful, tackle problems with critical thinking, and help you view the world from a perspective that enables you to be and do y…

Man, that title just hits you in the face, doesn't it? It is unapologetically raw and maybe even rude. Hell, some people might even say it's offensive to be so crass. This is such a perfect topic to talk about – especially in today's divisive and politically charged, social-media fueled, attention seeking society. Nobody cares if you're offended. L…

Did you know one of the most often searched terms is “how to find balance as an entrepreneur and family man” on Google? Why is that? Well, it’s probably because having a work life balance as an entrepreneur is hard as hell. While many people may look at successful entrepreneurs and feel they “have it together” based on their viewpoint, sometimes th…

There are so many messages of manliness out there in the world these days, all vying for more and more of your attention, but which ones are true? Which messages are good for you, and which are good for everyone? There's a big difference there. Some influencers will have men believe that the world is getting softer and that men need to focus more o…

Sometimes the hustle can bring great success and confidence, and other times the hustle brings exhaustion, despair, and defeat. So what's the catch with hustle? In this episode of the podcast, we're exploring the tale of two entrepreneurs and the differences between a hustle that works and a hustle that hurts. No, it may not cause physical harm, bu…

I recently had a conversation with a client of mine regarding what he truly wants. He had so many things to say about what he wanted. And, he had even more to say about why it's too hard or impossible to make happen. There are all these "reasons" for how it just can't be done, or it's too scary, or what will happen if it doesn't work out – and ever…

Gentlemen, having a crap credit score is not only an ungentlemanly thing to have, but it's also completely fixable. There are resources, tricks, and actions you can take to completely change your score, so today, we're going over the definitive guide to improving your credit score, and keeping it that way. The first thing to understand about credit…

My wife and I are a good example of opposites attracting. I'm a hopeless romantic and she's much more practical. I'll plan grand gestures of romance, cloaked in secrecy for surprise, and deliver a symphony of Kodak moments we'll cherish forever. It's all orchestrated for my own satisfaction. I do it because it's fun for me. Yes, of course, she enjo…

In this episode, we're exploring the relationships that are affected when you become a man of your own. It is an episode for sons, and daughter-in-laws, and even my own parents and in-laws. There’s a space for guys to recognize the auxiliary players in their transition from boys to men. We forget that the world doesn’t revolve around us. We forget …

One of the things that we all strive to be is dependable as men. We want to be strong providers and trusted unconditionally. We want to be honorable men, even if many of us aren't exactly sure what that means. We like, and often romanticize the Gentleman's Agreement. When we are told something is going to happen, we want to believe it. We like the …

In a year from now, you'll wish you started today. When I want to have the best year ever, I look at this quote. This is one of my favorite quotes because it keeps me focused on what I'm committing to when I procrastinate. Every time I say no to getting up and getting out there, I'm saying yes to missed opportunities; yes to broken promises to myse…

Integrity Through Distractions Temptation is everywhere, gentlemen. You can be driving to the gym, ready to hit it hard, and find yourself in the Dunkin' Donuts drive thru a moment later... if you give into the temptation. Integrity through distractions, right? Distractions are even more prevalent. Distractions are temptations disguised as noise. Y…

THIS EPISODE HAS CURSE WORDS. I went to an event yesterday and heard Tony Robbins speak. One of the exercises he had us do was to meditate on a moment we are forever grateful for, and I thought of the time my dad visited me and Jami in Texas, and I taught him how to tie a bow tie. Coincidentally, we just passed the anniversary of his death, and a y…

This time, Ego IS the answer. For many of us, happiness and contentment are synonymous. We reach a moderate level of success, while secretly wishing we could do (fill-in the blank). Most of the time, that one thing we wish were doing professionally –instead of what we're currently doing– is in a completely unrelated field. It is our fear of switchi…

Haste makes waste, gentlemen. In today's modern society of what I like to call Throwaway Ideals, it can be difficult to see yourself finishing anything all the way. Most of us are too easily conditioned to cut and run when the going gets tough because there's opportunity and alternatives abound. We start a lot of projects, chase a lot of ideas, and…

“What’s a gentleman like you doing in a place like this?” Las Vegas is dubbed as “Sin City,” and with good reason, as it offers just about every kind of earthly delight under the sun. As such, it might seem a contradiction to recommend this place to bona fide gentlemen. Nonetheless, there are actually a lot of activities that gents can try out, wit…

There is often a misconception when it comes to bringing alcohol to different social gatherings. What’s the best drink to bring to a party? Should bring anything at all? Beer or wine? Both? Food as well? It’s all a lot to keep balanced! You definitely want to bring a gift to the host of whatever social gathering you’re attending, and this episode w…

The world is an interesting place – one full of opportunities and adventures, yet also riddled with terrible decisions, fear, doubt, and distractions that keep us from becoming the best men we can be. Sometimes it takes a hard truth to snap us out of our funk and get us back on track. These hard truths can be difficult to digest, but necessary to k…

Breaking up is hard to do. At the same time, staying in a relationship that doesn't serve either party is also hard to do. Unfortunately, we are willing to do more of the latter that we are of the former, and that's a disservice to ourselves and each other. Look, it sucks to break up, but it also sucks to be in an unhappy relationship. A fair amoun…

We've all heard, in some form or another, the old adage that "you have to hit rock bottom before you can truly change." In the case of my friend Jan, his rock bottom was a nervous breakdown due to the compounding stress of being an employee, a student, and a man in his 20s trying to figure things out. It turns out, some men aren't built to be emplo…

Look, we all want a way to make more while doing less, right? Passive income is the vehicle to allow that, BUT –and this is a big one– they aren't going to make you rich overnight, and they all come with their own shortcomings. In this episode (and article), I'm going to cover the 5 main channels for passive income and what you need to know going i…

I was recently having a conversation with a group of friends and business connections and mentioned a little bit of my story after my accident, and was met with "what accident?" in response. It turns out, many of my connections don't know my story. The short version is: I was in a terrible car wreck just after high school and it changed my brain. P…

Many of us are lucky we never had to/have to transition through a life-altering accident, illness, or injury to emerge with a much greater amount of clarity, conviction, and confidence. In this instance, Suzy went through a pretty wicked stroke and emerged with a new perspective on 'listening to your gut' – and some insights that will help us all a…

On a random day a few weeks ago, I was perusing Instagram and stumbled across a brand called Make Today Legendary. They sent me a message about their cause and what their wristband was all about. Skeptical at first, I have to admit I grilled the founder with some follow-up questions. After discovering more about him and the movement behind MTL, I i…

As we grow into management and leadership roles, we are often taught how to lead from the wrong people. More often than not, we learn to lead by seeing the world through the lens of the leader immediately above us. This isn't necessarily bad, but it can often have us attached to outcomes, directions, and processes that aren't really our own. The qu…

Dating has progressed from meeting people in public places and having conversation to swiping left or right and texting for hookups. Does it mean all hope for a real relationship is lost? I argue that no, all hope is not lost, but you must be aware of the rules of the game so you don't fall victim to it. This goes for men and women. In this episode…

Men are programmed to conquer things. We come with software already installed from the factory that has us compelled to solve things, right wrongs, and stand and fight. It's what makes us such great linear thinkers! We see a problem, we focus on the next steps, we take them, and we conquer. Piece of cake. Unfortunately, in our male-pattern-thinking…

The one thing none of us focus on when think think about what we'll be when we grow up, is how we'll look. Maybe that's a good thing. Most Americans simply grow up and get wider, not taller as they age. I'm actually in better shape today than I ever was in high school, but I fell victim to something much more sinister. In honor of keeping things fr…

This episode was recorded with lavalier microphones worn on our lapels at SyncLab Media Studios in Dallas, which was both amazing and left me wishing the sound was a better. To help make sure nothing is missed, I took the time to transcribe everything form out 20 minute interview below. There's also a video (it is a video studio after all) of the i…

Have you ever been minding your own business when suddenly a perfume or cologne wafts through the air and completely captures your attention? Maybe it was a scent that reminded you of that old girlfriend you had back in college. Maybe it reminded you of that guy at the office that smells like he bathes himself in cologne before coming to work every…

Today, I am on location with my good friend Aimee Bentson. You may remember her from the episode where we discussed the Dos and Don'ts of Online Dating. It was a hit episode, and I thought it would be a good idea to get her take on the modern gent these days. So today, we are going to cover 5 ways you can become a modern gent – more importantly, a …

In a world full of phobias, public speaking is up there at the top – right next to that spider at the end of Arachnophobia. And yet, men and women both dream about absolutely dominating the room with the perfect toast. Many secretly dream of raising a glass and speaking off-the-cuff with such prose that the ladies swoon and someone starts a slow-cl…

With New Year's Resolutions in full swing, I know a lot of us, myself included, can often feel like we're not going to make it happen. We're simply not strong enough to keep up with the willpower necessary to make that big change. We feel stuck... even nine days into the new year. Sometimes it just takes a few quick things to turn it around for me …

Why would you want to know how to fight with your spouse? Because it's a natural part of building a healthy, long-lasting relationship. Marriage in America has become something of a joke. Well, not really a joke – more of a statistical mess. Approximately half of all marriages in the US end in divorce. Clearly, we take commitment very seriously. Th…

Public Speaking for the Anxious Guy with Julian Placino The Pathways to Success Podcast is a weekly a show where Julian interviews leaders on business, personal development, health & fitness and many other topics designed to help you find your unique Pathway to Success. Although there are principles and commonalities of success, everyone has to wal…

Some lessons just need to be forgotten... It never ceases to amaze me how brilliant people can opt not to pursue their big ideas because old lessons they've learned are so deeply ingrained. What a tragedy it is to watch someone give up before he or she even begins. Some poor lessons we learned as early as childhood can still haunt us today. Even in…

I was recently having a conversation with a friend of mine about entrepreneurship and the changing landscape of business success these days, and I discovered a few coaching moments I want to share with you. He's an incredibly hard working guy and it shows in his business and brand. He is the first one in and last one out of the office seven days a …

Control can kill. Gentlemen, this may sound counter-intuitive, but you need to stop being charge of everything in your life – If for no other reason than it's killing you. If it doesn't end up physically killing you, it will at the very least kill a metric ton of pleasure, enjoyment, and realized success. Sure, you may reach that goal you're shooti…

Don Miguel Ruiz wrote The Four Agreements, and I'm sure you've no doubt read quotes from it and learned of these agreements from one source or another. Whether you read the book or not, I want to address each agreement from the gentleman's perspective, and a few extra pieces that can help really bring it home in a big way. The basic four agreements…

There are a myriad of outlets describing how to build your legacy these days, and yet we don't really care much for it until we start noticing our impact on the world. Sometimes that means our children, sometimes it means our coworkers, sometimes it's just our sudden realization that we're going to die someday and we worry how we'll be remembered. …

One of the most misused superpowers a man can have is the power to listen deeply. Millions of self-proclaimed "good listeners" are actually just listening well enough to keep a conversation going in his or her direction. Genuine listeners hear what isn't being said, connect more deeply with their partner, and create a pathway for creative collabora…

Today, we're talking about the 5 rules for getting fit for the rest of your life. These aren't necessarily the perfect food, nutrition plan, supplement, or exercise; rather, they're the 5 rules you need to follow if you want to achieve actual longterm success on your fitness journey. Oscar and I were never huge or morbidly obese guys, but we both g…

Today's podcast is about something you're all familiar with, but may not know exactly what the rules are in it: tipping. Gratuity – when should you, how much should you, what makes a good tip, why should you, etc. These questions roll around the heads of many men every day, and we're here to talk about what the rules are, and what to be aware of in…

I have an amazing show for you today. [remember to Subscribe Here] I’m joined by a man I can now call a friend, and one that makes our roles as men better because he’s here to help us make smart moves and go boldly into that good night. My guest today is Ryan Michler of ORDER OF MAN. Through his site, podcast, and personal missions, Ryan is driven …

In the game of life, we are all seeking better performance. Whether that means better performance at our jobs, our relationships, our athletics, or in the bedroom, we want to be better – we need to be better. When it comes to actually achieving that better-ness, we often seek answers and solutions in the wrong direction. We chase external supplemen…

Entrepreneurs know the impact haters can have on their success, and more importantly, look for them as an indicator that they're on the right track. As an owner of several ventures, I'm always on the lookout for detractors and naysayers because they provide me with motivation that I can't get from my best cheerleaders. Strange as it may sound, some…