The Dwayne Kerrigan Podcast

In Part 2 of this conversation, Michael Grandjean shares the emotional and psychological turning point that allowed him to rebuild his life and career after profound loss. From a raw moment of self-forgiveness in the mountains of Morocco to the daily discipline of “kicking the can,” Michael walks through the mindset shifts, rituals, and relentless patience required to climb out of depression, debt, and despair.Together with Dwayne Kerrigan, this episode explores the role of brotherhood, leverage, honest self-reflection, and creating a compelling new story when the old one no longer serves you. This is a masterclass in resilience, identity rebuilding, and what it truly takes to come back stronger — with wisdom, humility, and purpose.Episode Highlights:00:00 – Michael opens with the realization that self-forgiveness was required to move forward.01:00 – Episode introduction and framing this as Part 2 of Michael’s comeback story.02:00 – The Morocco mastermind trip and being forced to confront the truth.05:00 – Emotional breakthrough on the mountain and the decision to rebuild.07:30 – Creating the Three Ps: plan, persistence, and patience.09:00 – “Kick the can” explained and committing to daily forward movement.12:00 – Brotherhood, accountability, and why we’re not meant to do life alone.16:00 – Letting go of guilt, disappointment, and the need for self-forgiveness.20:00 – Depression, isolation, and breaking life down to “just get through today.”24:00 – Writing the plan on a whiteboard and becoming resourceful again.30:00 – Changing the internal story to create a compelling future.36:00 – Writing goals again, paying off debt, and getting back to zero.42:00 – Daily mantras, rituals, and retraining the mind.48:00 – Shifting from hourly work to profit-based consulting and rebuilding cash flow.01:01:00 – Final reflections, where to find Michael, and the podcast disclaimer.Key Takeaways:Self-forgiveness is a prerequisite for real forward movement.Progress is built daily through patience, persistence, and simple actions.You cannot rebuild alone - community and accountability matter.Changing your internal story changes your future trajectory.Rituals, mantras, and physiology are tools for rewiring the mind.Resources Mentioned:Checkmate: https://www.facebook.com/reel/1365025640684229 Tony Robbins – Date With DestinyMastermindPersonal goal-setting and written planning practicesDaily mantras and meditation ritualsWhiteboard strategic planningNotable Quotes:“The past is the past. The past doesn't equal the future.” - Michael Grandjean“You have to change your story … If you’re living in a shitty story, you’re going to stay in a shitty story.” - Michael...

In this candid and powerful conversation, Michael Grandjean joins Dwayne Kerrigan to share the real story behind his rise, collapse, and rebuilding as an entrepreneur who led with heart—and paid a steep price for it.From early service as a volunteer firefighter and Navy corpsman to building a $25M remediation company, Michael reflects on the leadership blind spots that quietly dismantled his business: avoiding confrontation, ignoring early warning signs, and letting emotion override structure and accountability.He opens up about losing everything, the humility required to face hard truths, and the moment that changed his trajectory—the realization that even at checkmate, the king still has one more move. This episode is a raw masterclass in leadership self-awareness, responsibility, and what it truly takes to rebuild when everything falls apart.Episode Highlights:01:15 — Dwayne introduces Michael and some of his background03:00 — Framing the conversation: collapse, comeback, and leadership through adversity05:00 — Early life experiences that shaped Michael’s instinct to serve and protect others08:00 — How learning-by-doing in the military built confidence, skill, and leadership12:00 — The missed Naval Academy opportunity and how a single point changed his life path16:00 — Discovering the root of his need to “fix everything” through early childhood memory20:00 — How that identity became both a leadership strength and a business liability24:00 — From couch-surfing to starting his first company with borrowed money28:00 — Explosive growth: scaling from zero to $25M and building teams that drove success35:00 — Hiring high-accountability leaders and why standards matter more than likability42:00 — The beginning of complacency and losing focus after reaching the “top”48:00 — Major projects fail, millions lost, and the cost of avoiding confrontation55:00 — Hard truths: personal blind spots, delayed decisions, and leadership responsibility01:05:00 — The emotional bottom, rebuilding identity, and the realization that “the king still has one more move”01:20:00 — Final reflections on honesty, courage, accountability, and choosing to move forwardKey Takeaways:Leading with heart is powerful, but without boundaries it becomes expensive.Relationships, not brands, carry small and mid-sized businesses.SOPs, structure, and accountability protect leaders from their blind spots.Complacency quietly erodes even successful companies.Leaders must be honest with themselves before they can fix anything else.Even at your lowest point, you still have one more move.Resources Mentioned:Checkmate: https://www.facebook.com/reel/1365025640684229 Tony Robbins – Date With DestinyAwaken the Giant Within (Tony Robbins)MastermindNotable Quotes:“The king still has one more move” - Michael Grandjean

Part Two of the Best Of 2025 series brings together some of the most impactful leadership, mindset, and business insights shared on The Dwayne Kerrigan Podcast this year. This curated collection highlights defining moments from seasoned executives, founders, and operators who have navigated growth, failure, succession, identity shifts, and reinvention at every stage of their careers.Across these clips, listeners hear honest reflections on making unpopular but necessary decisions, balancing intensity with elegance in leadership, evolving career horizons, and knowing when to step forward—or step aside. The episode explores entrepreneurial thinking inside both startups and large organizations, the power of conviction over persuasion, and why great leadership is rooted in process, accountability, and self-awareness rather than blame.This Best Of episode also dives into legacy thinking: building multi-generational companies, transitioning leadership roles, redefining success beyond ego, and discovering fulfillment through contribution rather than achievement alone. From mindset and marketing to succession planning and service-driven purpose, Part Two captures the wisdom that emerges only through lived experience.EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS: 00:34 - Introduction2:53- France Margaret Bélanger05:13 - Ron Tite06:50 - Jason Castellan09:54 - Karl Tabbakh13:15 - Jeni Hott16:26 - Swish Goswami17:55 - Mark Bradley19:36 - Jim Ritter21:51 - Irfan Rajabali24:43 - Rod Khleif27:18 - Vaneli Martinov31:50 - Scott ClaryKEY TAKEAWAYS:*Conviction gives leaders the courage to act when approval is uncertain.*Strong leaders balance intensity with elegance, standards with emotional control.*Career growth should widen future opportunities, not narrow them.*Identity and ego can quietly sabotage fulfillment if left unchecked.*Sustainable success requires planning for succession long before it feels necessary.*Authority and clarity outperform persuasion and desperation in marketing and leadership.*Happiness comes from progress, contribution, and growth—not from hitting a single goal.NOTABLE QUOTES:“You should never achieve a big goal without having other goals lined up behind it” - Rod Khleif“What gives you the courage to make those tough decisions … you have the conviction that it’s the right decision ultimately” - France Margaret Bélanger “I see a problem, I think deeply about it, and I come up with a solution, and act on it” - Swish Goswami“When I’m no longer being challenged as a leader, this is where I think ok, what should I be doing next?” - Karl Tabbakh“I’ve got a solution that works and I know it’s here for them. That conviction comes through as leadership.” - Jeni HottConnect with Dwayne KerriganFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/thedwaynekerriganpodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/dwaynekerriganpodcast/Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dwayne-kerrigan-998113281/Website: http://www.dwaynekerrigan.comDisclaimer The views, information, or opinions expressed by guests during The Dwayne Kerrigan Podcast are solely those of the individuals involved and do not necessarily represent those of Dwayne Kerrigan and his affiliates. Dwayne Kerrigan or The Dwayne Kerrigan Podcast is not responsible for and does not verify the accuracy of any of the information contained in the podcast series. The primary purpose of this podcast is to educate and inform. Listeners are advised to consult with a qualified professional or specialist before making any decisions based on the content of this podcast.

This Best Of episode of The Dwayne Kerrigan Podcast brings together some of the most powerful, human, and perspective-shifting moments from recent conversations—highlighting the inner work that fuels resilience, fulfillment, and sustainable success.Across these standout clips, Dwayne and his guests explore the quiet transformations that happen beneath the surface: reframing everyday frustrations into gratitude, redefining identity after loss or transition, and understanding how meaning—not circumstances—shapes our experience of life and leadership.Listeners will hear deeply personal reflections on illness, sobriety, scarcity and abundance, self-belief, and the courage required to evolve beyond old identities. From learning to “get from” experiences instead of merely getting through them, to recognizing that progress creates happiness and balance—not extremes—creates longevity, this episode weaves together the wisdom that resonates long after the moment passes.This Best Of collection serves as both a reminder and a reset: fulfillment isn’t waiting at a destination. It’s found in the journey, in presence, perspective, and the daily choices that shape who we become.EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS: 0:00:32 - Introduction03:22 - Jessica Janzen05:52 - Master Co09:34 - Molly Bloom12:02 - Tod Melnyk15:10 - Emily Williams16:56 - Mara Dorne19:33 - Alvin Brown22:55 - Jaime McKenna25:52 - Rich Diviney29:09 - John Karpov31:16 - Alan Stein Jr.34:04 - Heather MoyseKEY TAKEAWAYS:Perspective can transform frustration into gratitude.Identity drives behavior; what you place after “I am” shapes your choices.You are not your thoughts, emotions, or circumstances — you are the observer of them.Growth comes from introspection and learning from experiences, not just getting through them.Failure becomes lighter when reframed as information, not identity.Sustainable high performance requires balance, not extremes.The journey itself—not the destination—is where fulfillment lives.NOTABLE QUOTES:“We find certainty in some of the smallest things, and that certainty is what gives us purpose.” - Dwayne Kerrigan“You’re not the emotion. It was created by you.” - Master Co“If you don’t get from an experience, you’re bound to repeat it over and over again.” - Alvin Brown“Let go of things and trust the process” - Emily Brown“When you feel good on the inside, you look good on the outside, you perform better” - Mara DorneConnect with Dwayne KerriganFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/thedwaynekerriganpodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/dwaynekerriganpodcast/Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dwayne-kerrigan-998113281/Website: http://www.dwaynekerrigan.comDisclaimer The views, information, or opinions expressed by guests during The Dwayne Kerrigan Podcast are solely those of the individuals involved and do not necessarily represent those of Dwayne Kerrigan and his affiliates. Dwayne Kerrigan or The Dwayne Kerrigan Podcast is not responsible for and does not verify the accuracy of any of the information contained in the podcast series. The primary purpose of this podcast is to educate and inform. Listeners are advised to consult with a qualified professional or specialist before making any decisions based on the content of this podcast.

In this special Q&A leadership session, Dwayne Kerrigan brings forward one of his most personal and powerful teachings yet—an unfiltered look at problem-solving, decision-making, emotional mastery, strategic planning, and the rituals that shape high-performance leaders.Responding to 51 listener questions, Dwayne breaks down the “three pillars of progress,” the psychological layers of every problem, why decision-making is a muscle, and how fear, uncertainty, and overwhelm quietly sabotage performance.He shares the exact rituals he has used for decades—from weekly solitude planning to identity-based scheduling—and the transformative practice he credits with changing his life: think time.This episode is a masterclass in intentional living and high-performance leadership, blending mindset, structure, neuroscience, and real-world business wisdom. If you’re navigating fast-moving environments, leading teams, or trying to build a more purposeful life, this conversation gives you a proven roadmap forward.Key Takeaways:Decision-making is a muscle—if you don’t practice small decisions with process and ritual, big decisions will always overwhelm you.Your focus determines your emotional life—the meaning you attach to events shapes long-term joy or suffering.Rituals create identity and outcomes—weekly solitude planning, think time, and identity-based scheduling produce clarity and momentum.Strategic thinking requires cadence—yearly visioning, quarterly reviews, weekly planning, and daily recalibration.AI will disrupt faster than expected—leaders must systemize processes now to survive the shift.Self-love, vulnerability, and forgiveness are essential ingredients for emotional mastery and better decision-making.Quotes:“Decision making is a muscle .. and it's a skill set. And often times where we struggle is this area of making the tough and difficult decisions.”“What you ritualized in practice in private is rewarded in public.”“The business side of things should be a game. I mean, it should be fun most of the time.”"What is going to make you a happier and more joyful person, is attaching a different meaning to the events that happen in your life.”Resources Mentioned:Tony Robbins – “Three Pillars of Progress,” Date With Destiny program, life-planning philosophyStephen Covey – prioritization framework (A/B/C method)Waking Up App (Sam Harris) – meditation and mindfulnessChatGPT (Teams) – referenced as part of Dwayne’s business infrastructureSOPs (Standard Operating Procedures) – foundational to AI-based workflow agentsIdentity-based scheduling – Dwayne’s personal system (Chairman, Husband, Father, Student, etc.)Audio Timestamps:00:00 – How meaning, not outcomes, determines happiness and fulfillment.01:00 – Welcome, context for the live Q&A format, and session overview.02:00 – Framing the biggest listener questions around decisions, problems, and leadership.03:00 – The three pillars of progress and why focusing on problems makes them grow.05:00 – The three levels of a problem: external, internal, and psychological.07:00 – Why fear, uncertainty, and overwhelm stop people from making decisions.09:00 – Decision-making as a muscle and the importance of rituals for small decisions.12:00 – Managing overwhelm through physiology, breathing, and better questions.16:00 – Focus, meaning, and how emotional patterns shape leadership behavior.23:00 – Strategic thinking rituals: yearly visioning, quarterly...