Self Discipline - A Stoic View of Imperfection
Imperfect Mens Club
Episode 43: Self Discipline. A Stoic View of Imperfection Summary In this episode, Mark and Jim explore self-discipline through the lens of Stoic philosophy. They unpack five timeless rules that still hold up in a world full of distractions, dopamine hits, and excuses. The conversation spans modern habits, mental toughness, guilt, accountability, voluntary discomfort, and the deeper connection between self-awareness, self-trust, and real personal growth. The core message: self-discipline isn’t perfection. It’s the small, unglamorous, repeatable reps you keep showing up for. What We...
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Self-Projection, Narcissism & Radical Accountability
Imperfect Mens Club
Short Episode Description In this episode, Mark and Jim unpack self-projection: how it shows up consciously and unconsciously, how it damages relationships, and what radical accountability actually looks like in real life. They explore narcissistic patterns, the difference between healthy self-presentation and fake personas, and why the simple act of pausing might be one of the most powerful tools you have. Along the way, Mark shares hard-won lessons from a deeply toxic relationship and how he rebuilt his emotional maturity in the years that followed. Episode Summary Mark and Jim start from...
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Why 2025 Could Be the Most Consequential Year of Our Lifetime
Imperfect Mens Club
Episode Overview In this episode, Mark and Jim zoom out to the worldview arena of the Imperfect Men’s Club framework and connect four generations, American innovation, AI, capitalism, and historical cycles into one big through-line. The jumping-off point is Jim’s recent trip with his 85-year-old mom to meet his new granddaughter. That experience, paired with a talk he watched about 2025 being a “tipping point year,” sparked a conversation about why history really does repeat itself in 25- and 80-year patterns, how America’s unique mix of freedom and capitalism unlocks innovation, and...
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"I'm Not Good Enough" The Origins And Impact Of Self Limiting Beliefs
Imperfect Mens Club
Episode Summary Mark and Jim dive into the belief that quietly caps potential: “I’m not good enough.” They trace where it starts (childhood messages, school systems, fear, past misses) and how it shows up in adult life: promotions we never ask for, relationships we avoid, work we don’t share, skills we won’t try. Along the way: stories from recruiting, entrepreneurship, parenting after divorce, and reframing regret as proof you care. The Conversation Explores What a self-limiting belief system is Thoughts that feel like facts, internalized from fear, old messages, or past...
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Introspection Without the Spiral: 5 Moves to Get Unstuck
Imperfect Mens Club
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Reframing The Differences Between Men And Women
Imperfect Mens Club
Summary Mark and Jim dive into the “relationships” spoke of the wheel, using a simple moment in a tire shop to unpack a bigger idea: reframing. From there they explore the difference between loving and longing, how past relationships shape current ones, what men and women tend to seek at different life stages, and why self-awareness is the only way any of this works. Mark shares hard-won perspective as a single dad of two daughters and a son; Jim brings a long-married vantage point and a field report from that fish-tank-by-the-waiting-room conversation. The conversation explores...
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Self-Discipline, Routines, and the Quiet Power of Consistency
Imperfect Mens Club
Summary Mark and Jim dig into self-discipline as a daily practice, not a personality trait. They walk through their real-world morning and evening routines, how gratitude and breathwork change your state, why partnerships create accountability, and how three tightly chosen priorities per day compound into a better year. Practical, free, and doable. The conversation explores: What self-discipline actually is: controlling impulses and short-term urges to align with long-term values and intentions, built through practice and simple systems. Morning routines that stick: hydration, oil pulling,...
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Are You A Leader Or Simply In A Position Of Authority?
Imperfect Mens Club
Quick Summary Mark and Jim unpack leadership through the lens of “seasons.” Drawing on John Maxwell’s idea that everyone has a book inside them, they explore how winter, spring, summer, and fall map to personal growth, responsibility, and impact. They also get candid about humility, credibility, and why leadership is more than holding a title—it’s taking responsibility for the well-being of other people. The conversation explores Leadership ≠ Title: The difference between positions of authority and true leadership that models behavior, brings clarity, and takes responsibility for...
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Civil Discourse In A Divided World
Imperfect Mens Club
In this episode of the Imperfect Men’s Club Podcast, Mark Aylward and Jim Gurulé dive into the lost art of civil discourse—why it matters, how we’ve strayed from it, and what it takes to bring it back into everyday life. The conversation explores: Why civil discourse is more than politeness Civil discourse goes beyond surface-level politeness or avoiding conflict. It’s about creating space for real dialogue that expands knowledge, challenges assumptions, and strengthens community. Mark and Jim unpack why this practice is critical for healthy democracies, strong relationships,...
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“Do It Anyway” - The Key To Mining Your Own Personal Gold
Imperfect Mens Club
Short Description Mark and Jim unpack “self-alchemy”—turning your life’s raw materials (skills, reps, scars, notes, half-finished ideas) into something valuable. They connect it to the IMC wheel (Profession, Relationships, Money, Health/Well-Being, Worldview), talk about aligning work with values, and make the case for creating consistently despite criticism, delays, or imperfect outcomes. AI shows up not as artificial intelligence but as amplified intelligence that helps curate and ship your life’s work. The refrain: Do it anyway. What We Cover Self-Alchemy defined:...
info_outlineMark brings in the topic in the context of our Wheel. The concept of focusing one only one thing until you momentum and can diversify with only the cash flow from that one thing. Simplicity
Jim brings up the idea of focus and how that is bolstered with simplicity. He expands on our wheel and the five areas of life and the center of the wheel, the self
Jim and Mark share their experience with the mainstream news. Both guys share that they have tried life with it and without it…and the impact is real. It’s a massive distraction
Jim brings in self alignment in the context of being self aligned toward that one thing
Jim shares the definition of self alignment. Mark talks about his “one thing” routine
Mark reads the definition of self awareness
Jim marvels at the simplicity of it and Mark agrees. Mark brings in Jim’s idea of doing “reps”. Mark shares where his most recent “One thing” focus came from…a level of dissatisfaction with his state of mind and productivity. He shares how impactful it’s been by just stopping the consumption of the news..for three day!
Jim brings up the well being part of our wheel. He thinks it’s about being in control of your own thoughts. It’s alignment. When you watch news, you give away control of your own thoughts
Mark brings up the notion of opening up email first thing in the morning. You give away control to other people’s definition of urgent or important
Mark reads the definition of self alignment
The definition includes the words harmony and coherence
Jim cites self connection as being a quantum physics idea not a mindset. He tries to start his day with breathing and breath work can align and connect, removing friction. It’s another” reps” idea
Mark says it’s all about what you let into your “self”…all of it
The guys bring up Wim Hof and the idea that it’s also about letting things “out”. Keep in mind, this is an exercise that can be done in minutes
Mark shares his morning routine, specifically his journaling prompts
Jim shares how his variety of projects pulls away from the “one thing idea”. Much harder as an entrepreneur. Mark agrees
The idea of comparison and how structure is the hardest part of working alone
Mark reads the definition of self connection. Everything is connected
Marks issue is how hard it is to stop paying attention to so many different things.
The guys compare how challenging it is today versus when they started their careers regarding human connection. Mark talks about how his kids can multitask, but how this distraction might be the cause of an upswing in depression and mental health. They wonder what the cause really is and where this is going
Mark talks about how online bullies punch…and those same people would not do so face to face
He thinks this invisibility is not good. Humans have constraints face to face, but not online. Jim brings back up the importance of the 5 sense
Mark thinks the handshake is gone and he thinks this is a big deal…all five sense
Is this difference bad or do we simply take this for granted. Mark is pushing back toward face to face communication because people are craving it
Is human interaction in support of your “one thing”? Jim says connectivity is done at the local level. We can’t connect nationally, but we can locally. Mark says he hasn’t tapped in to the local market. Mark lives where he didn’t grow up. Jim’s connections are mostly childhood local relationships. A very different dynamic. Mark does give Jim credit for traveling…local connections, but also exposure to other cultures…a bug deal