Are you leading your business from presence, or are you leading from pressure?

In the first episode of The Deru Way, a special six-week series of The Grounded Man Podcast, John explores why there has never been more opportunity to grow a business, but also never been more noise and distraction competing for your attention. He explains why staying grounded and present is becoming increasingly important, and how being reactive, firefighting, and spending too much time on low-value work can take you away from the areas where your time matters most.

John also looks at the cost of losing presence both in business and at home. He explains why time itself isn’t the problem, but how present you are within those hours, and explores the difference between leading from pressure on the outside and leading from presence on the inside. John also shares the meaning behind Deru — to be solid, firm, and steadfast — and why returning to who you are behind the work, roles, successes, and failures creates greater trust in yourself and the process.

John then introduces the five seasons of The Deru Way: Return, Release, Rooting, Rise, and Restore. He explains how each season reflects a natural part of growth, from developing greater self-awareness and letting go of limitations to finding clarity, taking aligned action, and creating an environment that supports who you want to become. He closes with two reflections on what a lack of presence may be costing you in your business and in your life at home.

Want to check how present you are in your business and life? Book your Deru Presence Check here: https://calendly.com/johndouglas-coaching/deru-presence-check

00:00:54 — Introducing The Deru Way

00:02:16 — Are You Present for the Opportunity?

00:03:26 — The Cost of Noise and Distraction

00:04:54 — How Distraction Shows Up in Business

00:05:26 — What Would 10 Hours of Presence Be Worth?

00:06:40 — The Cost of Distraction at Home

00:07:25 — Time Is Not the Problem

00:08:17 — What Deru Means

00:09:09 — Leading From Presence vs. Pressure

00:11:45 — Introducing the Five Seasons of Growth

00:12:41 — Return: Coming Back to Truth

00:13:19 — Release: Letting Go to Grow

00:14:33 — Rooting: Creating Clarity and Direction

00:15:04 — Rise: Becoming the Man You Want to Be

00:15:18 — Restore: Creating the Right Environment

00:16:08 — Growing Yourself and Your Business

00:17:21 — What Is Distraction Costing Your Business?

00:18:26 — The Grounding Question