Embracing Authenticity and Grit: Real Identity & True Purpose
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Guardians of Grit: Authentic Identity, Purpose, and Raising Strong, Kind Sons
On Real Men Feel, host Andy Grant speaks with David Ask, founder of The Ask Experience and author of the upcoming book Guardians of Grit, about authentic identity, purpose, grit, and fatherhood. Ask argues identity is uncovered—not achieved—by clarifying values, convictions, virtues, strengths, and desired impact, rather than defining oneself by roles or performance. He reframes grit as values-based staying power without emotional shutdown and says purpose should primarily focus on helping others flourish.
They discuss how fathers can raise strong and kind sons by recognizing the larger story of what’s worth fighting for and by using a “notice, name, nurture” framework, including the idea that a father’s key job is to remove uncertainty. The conversation also explores humility, capability, faith, and the revelation of others’ “riches.”
00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro
00:51 What Is Authentic Identity
02:14 Childhood to Core Values
05:33 Values Convictions Virtues
11:08 Purpose, Love, and Alignment
16:03 Start With Who, Not Why
19:14 Defining Real Grit
21:05 Values That Build Grit
21:54 Raising Strong Kind Sons
23:12 The Bigger Story Of Manhood
25:39 Notice Name Nurture
27:13 A Father Removes Uncertainty
29:33 Humility Over Performance
31:11 Dangerous Yet Gentlemen
34:14 Faith Identity And Worth
37:20 Bottom Of The Ladder
39:15 Connect With David
40:38 Reveal Others' Riches
42:47 Host Takeaways And Next Steps
Connect with David
David Ask — https://theaskexperience.com/
LinkedIn — https://www.linkedin.com/in/thedavidask/
Connect with Andy:
Join other like-minded men in the Authentic AF Community | https://www.realmenfeel.org/group
Instagram | @realmenfeelshow & @theandygrant
Andy Grant | https://theandygrant.com for coaching, healing, and book info!
Real Men Feel | https://realmenfeel.org
YouTube | https://youtube.com/realmenfeel
#RealMenFeel ep 412
Entrepreneur, Creative, and Most Encouraging Person on Earth
Hi there—I’m David Ask.
On paper, I’m an entrepreneur and inventor. I built a simple idea into a real product—StatGuardPlus—now in over 3,700 retail locations including The Home Depot and Lowe’s. That journey taught me a lot about grit, failure, risk, and perseverance. But what truly drives me today isn’t hardware—it’s people.
I currently serve as the lead coach for Dr. Andy Garrett’s True North Resiliency Program, where we help individuals, families, and organizations transform their internal culture by doing something surprisingly rare: introducing people to themselves. I often say NEVER start with Why.
I love conversations that are real, practical, and a little uncomfortable—in a good way. Topics I’m especially passionate about include:
* Entrepreneurship and fatherhood. How to live well and love well and why understanding Identity at YOUR core changes everything…
* Insights from my upcoming book The Guardians of Grit, exploring the difference between grit and resilience and how to raise and Uncrushable Son.
My mission is summed up by this quote:
“The greatest good you can do for another is not to share with him your riches, but to reveal to him his own.” —Benjamin Disraeli