The Foundation: Why Freedom and Individual Flourishing Aren't Enough
For millennia, heroic ancient wisdom has provided individuals with the tools to thrive personally—cultivating virtue, resilience, and purpose. This wisdom remains powerful and necessary. Yet individual flourishing alone cannot address humanity's greatest challenge: the natural state of extreme poverty that has defined most of human existence.
Here's the sobering reality: for 99% of human history, the vast majority lived in conditions we would today consider abject poverty. Life expectancy rarely exceeded 30 years, infant mortality was devastating, and basic necessities like clean water, adequate nutrition, and shelter remained luxuries for the few. This wasn't an aberration—this was humanity's default state.
What broke this pattern? Not charity, not government programs, not good intentions alone. What finally lifted billions from poverty was the systematic establishment of economic freedom, free markets, and the entrepreneurial capitalism that naturally emerges when people are free to create, compete, and trade.
The Freedom Prerequisite: Why Free Enterprise Is Non-Negotiable
Before we can address Maslow's hierarchy of needs at scale, we must acknowledge a fundamental truth: freedom comes first. Without economic freedom—the right to start businesses, own property, compete fairly, and keep the fruits of one's labor—entrepreneurship cannot emerge, and human flourishing remains limited to the privileged few.
This isn't political ideology; it's historical fact. Every society that has successfully lifted its people from poverty has done so through some combination of:
When these foundations exist, entrepreneurship flourishes. When they don't, even the most well-intentioned efforts to help humanity struggle to create lasting change.
Entrepreneurship uniquely addresses each level of human needs precisely because free enterprise creates:
But entrepreneurship cannot exist without its essential prerequisite: economic freedom.
The Critical Foundation: Freedom + Free Enterprise = Human Flourishing
Successful entrepreneurship requires more than individual initiative or good ideas. It demands a system built on two critical pillars:
1. Economic Freedom: The Non-Negotiable Foundation
Without the freedom to start businesses, compete fairly, protect intellectual property, and operate within consistent legal frameworks, entrepreneurial energy dissipates into corruption, rent-seeking, and stagnation. History shows us repeatedly that societies without economic freedom remain trapped in poverty, regardless of their natural resources or human talent.
2. Free Enterprise System: The Scaling Mechanism
Free markets provide the essential feedback loops that ensure resources flow to their most productive uses. When entrepreneurs succeed by serving real human needs, they generate profits that can be reinvested in further innovation and job creation. When they fail to serve humanity, the market eliminates them. This natural selection process is what makes free enterprise humanity's most powerful tool for wealth creation and poverty reduction.
This creates a virtuous cycle where today's successful entrepreneurs become tomorrow's investors, continuously expanding the ecosystem of opportunity—but only when operating within a framework of economic freedom.
The Undeniable Truth: Free Enterprise Forces Businesses to Serve Humanity
Here's the profound insight often overlooked by critics of capitalism: every genuinely successful business operating within a free enterprise system must, by economic necessity, serve and uplift humanity. This isn't idealism—it's the iron law of competitive markets.
Why does free enterprise create this result? Because sustainable profits only come from creating genuine value for others. In truly free markets:
The market rewards those who:
Conversely, businesses that succeed through cronyism, government favoritism, or market manipulation are not operating in truly free enterprise—they're exploiting systems where economic freedom has been compromised.
Heroic: Conscious Entrepreneurship Within Free Enterprise
Heroic Public Benefit Corporation (Heroic.us) exemplifies how conscious entrepreneurs leverage economic freedom to create scalable positive impact:
This demonstrates how free enterprise and conscious purpose align: when entrepreneurs are free to innovate and compete, the most successful approaches are those that genuinely serve humanity.
The Call to Action: Defending and Expanding Economic Freedom
This brings us to the true foundation of what we must do as heroes: defend and expand economic freedom while supporting conscious entrepreneurs worldwide. We must combine heroic principles with free enterprise—not just because it works, but because it's the only system that has ever lifted billions from poverty to prosperity.
Our mission must be:
The evidence is overwhelming: societies with greater economic freedom consistently show higher levels of prosperity, innovation, life expectancy, environmental protection, and social mobility. This isn't coincidence—it's the natural result of allowing human creativity and compassion to flourish within competitive markets.
Conclusion: The Freedom-Prosperity Connection
The path from individual wisdom to global prosperity runs through economic freedom and conscious entrepreneurship. When people are free to create, compete, and serve others in markets, we create an upward spiral that has lifted billions from humanity's default state of poverty:
Individual wisdom → Economic freedom → Purposeful entrepreneurship → Free market competition → Investment capital → Scaled impact → Human flourishing → More conscious entrepreneurs → Greater prosperity for all → Defense and expansion of the freedom that makes it all possible
This isn't just business strategy—it's a heroic mission to permanently lift humanity from its natural state of poverty into an era of unprecedented flourishing. But it only works when built on the foundation of economic freedom.
The evidence is clear, the moral case is compelling, and the practical results speak for themselves: Freedom and free enterprise aren't just nice-to-have luxuries—they're essential prerequisites for human flourishing at scale.
That's the heroic way. That's conscious capitalism within free enterprise. That's how we permanently lift humanity out of poverty.
There’s a moment in every movement when inspiration must turn into action. This is that moment.
Heroic isn’t just an idea—it’s a mission. To help 51% of the world flourish by 2051.
That’s not a slogan. It’s a commitment. A declaration that human flourishing is possible—and that it starts with us.
Because the truth is simple: The movement only works if you do.
Life is hard. Everyone faces challenges—visible and invisible. Many people are doing their best, yet lack the tools, community, and support to rise above the chaos of modern life.
Heroic is the forge—where we build the tools we need to meet life’s challenges with Courage, Love, Hope, and Zest. It’s where we strengthen our virtues, our energy, and our purpose—together.
And right now, the forge is blazing hot.
Heroic PBC is launching the new Virtual Heroic Workshop Instructor Training—an opportunity for anyone, anywhere to learn how to lead others toward greater flourishing.
And on January 10th, the world will unite for the Global Heroic Activation Day, where hundreds of Heroic Workshops will be held across the globe to help people activate their best selves.
This is the time to step up—to not only live Heroically, but to share it.
If you’ve ever felt the pull to do more—to live with greater purpose, to help others, to make a difference—this is your invitation.
Be deliberate in your practice. Live the virtues daily. Train your mind, body, and spirit. Commit to your own flourishing first—so you can help others flourish too.
Be active in your participation. Join the movement. Sign up for the Virtual Instructor Training. Attend the January 10th Global Activation. Bring your family, friends, and colleagues into the conversation.
Be generous in your power. Share your ideas for how Heroic Arizona can support your personal journey. Offer your skills, creativity, and talents to strengthen our local community. Every gift matters. Every voice counts. Every act of service multiplies impact.
When you do, you become part of something extraordinary—a community committed to wisdom, courage, love, and the flourishing of all.
We can talk about hope for the world, or we can build it—one person, one workshop, one community at a time.
Heroic isn’t about perfection. It’s about showing up. Again and again. Together.
So let’s do this. Let’s practice deliberately. Participate fully. And use our collective power to change the world—starting right here in Arizona.
Join the movement. Be Heroic.
A Weekend of Grit, Community, and Heroic Spirit
Something extraordinary is happening this weekend in Arizona, and we want YOU to be part of it.
From Friday afternoon, October 31st through Sunday afternoon, November 2nd, over 2,200 runners and supporters from across Arizona and the country will descend on McDowell Mountain Regional Park for the Ragnar Trail Relay—and Heroic Arizona will be right in the heart of the action.
Meet Team Antifragile
Our Heroic Arizona team isn't just showing up—we're going ALL IN. Team Antifragile will tackle this epic challenge as a running relay, starting at 8:30 AM Saturday morning and pushing through the night until Sunday, covering 120 total trail miles. That's resilience in action. That's what it means to be antifragile.
More Than a Race—It's a Village
Picture this: 2,200 people living together in a vibrant tent village, united by a shared commitment to challenge themselves and celebrate life. There will be food trucks serving up fuel, campfires bringing people together under the stars, outdoor movies, and a festive beer garden where stories of triumph are shared long into the night.
And right in the middle of it all? The Heroic Arizona tent.
Come Experience the Heroic Hub
We're creating something special—a space where participants can:
This is OUR crowd. These are people who wake up early, push their limits, and choose courage over comfort. They're already living heroically—many just don't know there's a community waiting for them.
We Need Heroes Like YOU
Here's your invitation to be part of something bigger: We need volunteers, especially on Sunday from 7:30 AM to 3:30 PM.
Volunteer for just a 4-hour shift and receive:
Whether you're there to support Team Antifragile, work the Heroic Arizona tent, or simply soak in the energy of this incredible gathering—your presence matters.
This Is Our Moment
How often do we get the chance to stand in front of 2,200 people who embody everything we believe in? People who are choosing adventure over apathy, challenge over comfort, and growth over stagnation?
This weekend, Heroic Arizona isn't just attending an event—we're showing up as a beacon for everyone who's ready to live more heroically.
Ready to join us?
Contact Scott McIntosh at Scott.McIntosh@heroicaz.us to volunteer
Let's make this weekend unforgettable. Let's show Arizona and beyond what a community of heroes looks like when we come together.
See you at the trail,
The Heroic Arizona Team
P.S. - Can't volunteer but want to cheer on Team Antifragile? Come by the tent village anytime throughout the weekend. Look for the Heroic Arizona tent—you can't miss us. We're the ones asking everyone about their superpowers.
Day 1. All in. Let's GO!
What happens when 45 passionate Heroes gather in person while another 15+ tune in virtually from Italy, the Netherlands, and across Arizona and the USA? Pure magic.
The October 24th Heroic Arizona event wasn't just a meeting—it was an experience. No PowerPoint slides. No formal presentations. Just Michael Balchan, on fire with energy and engagement, connecting with a community hungry to hear about the transformative changes coming to Heroic.
Stories That Move Us
Michael kicked things off by inviting audience members to share their personal Heroic journeys. The room came alive as individuals, families, nonprofit leaders, and executives from multibillion-dollar businesses testified to one powerful truth: Heroic is changing lives.
These weren't rehearsed testimonials—they were raw, authentic stories of transformation that reminded everyone why this work matters.
Win or Learn: Always Forward
With characteristic transparency, Michael acknowledged past challenges and shared how Heroic is evolving to create an even better first-time experience for newcomers. It's the Heroic way: win or learn, always moving forward.
Then came the exciting part—a preview of major initiatives that Founder and CEO Brian Johnson would soon detail in upcoming communications.
The Future of Heroic: What's Coming
Heroic has entered a bold new phase of growth and focus, with every touchpoint being redesigned to reflect excellence, simplicity, and soul. Here's what's on the horizon:
Philosopher's Notes Reimagined - Relaunching as a standalone experience, this beautiful modern library distills life-changing books into 20-minute wisdom shots you can apply TODAY. Brian's on a mission to share this wisdom with 1 million+ Heroes as he works toward 1,000+ Notes.
Rock Your Goddess Life (RYGL) - Led by Alexandra Johnson, this 12-week journey for women complements the Hero's Journey with essential feminine wisdom. Discover your Goddess Archetype, watch the Masterclass, and transform from the inside out.
Heroic Coach Expanded - With over 10,000 Heroes from 100+ countries already enrolled, the certification program is adding two powerful new pillars: Coaching Excellence and Coaching Prosperity—helping you master yourself, coach others, and make a living doing what you love.
Heroic Workshop Instructor Training Goes Virtual - Game-changer alert! More than 250 Heroes from nearly 20 countries have completed the in-person training. Now, for the first time ever, you can become a certified Heroic Workshop Instructor virtually at a fraction of the previous cost—just $1,000 (down from $5,000).
Arizona Rising: 10 Workshops Becoming 20
Here's where it gets really exciting for our Arizona community.
Several attendees shared powerful testimonials about the Workshop experience—describing how life-changing Heroic tools wrapped into a transformative 4-hour format created breakthrough moments in their lives.
Mark your calendars: January 10, 2026 - the first-ever Global Heroic Workshop Day, with hundreds of workshops in hundreds of cities worldwide. It will be the largest activation of Heroic energy in our history.
Heroic Arizona is proudly supporting this global initiative. We currently have 10 certified Workshop Instructors across the state—and during the October 24th event, we already secured commitments from two more members to get certified.
Our audacious goal? Add 10 more certified instructors by January 10th, bringing our total to 20. That means 20 workshops across Arizona on a single day—changing lives in service of our mission: 51% of humanity flourishing by 2051.
With virtual training now available and the investment reduced to $1,000, there's never been a better time to step into your calling as a Workshop Instructor.
Are you interested to attend a workshop to learn what it’s all about – check out this link for a workshop being held at MAC6 on Sunday, 9 November, 10 AM to 2:30PM.
The Energy is Palpable
This October evening captured everything that makes Heroic special: authentic connection, powerful storytelling, transparency about growth, and an unwavering commitment to helping humanity flourish.
Stay tuned for much more in the coming weeks. The momentum is building, the community is growing, and the impact is accelerating.
Day 1. Let's GO. All in.
— Scott McIntosh, Heroic Arizona Co-Founder
October 16, 2025 | 3 Pillars Performance Center, Tucson, AZ
Something extraordinary happened in Tucson on October 16th. More than an event launch. More than a networking evening. It was the ignition of a movement—one rooted in courage, clarity, and the radical belief that ordinary people can live heroic lives.
The inaugural Heroic Tucson Launch brought together business leaders, professionals, and purpose-driven individuals under one powerful theme: Rise Together | Elevating Tucson to Flourish in Life, Leadership & Legacy. And from the moment the first guest walked through the doors of 3 Pillars Performance Center, it was clear this wouldn't be just another community gathering. The energy was palpable. The connection was real. The transformation had begun.
A Movement Built on Timeless Principles
Heroic isn't new to making an impact. Founded on the philosophy that we can all activate our best selves through intentional practice, Heroic has inspired hundreds of thousands worldwide to close the gap between who they are and who they're capable of becoming. With a proven framework grounded in ancient wisdom and modern science, Heroic empowers individuals to optimize their energy, live with courage, and create meaningful legacies.
The Heroic community spans the globe—from online courses reaching seekers in every time zone to thriving local chapters where philosophy becomes practice, theory transforms into action, and strangers become allies in the pursuit of human excellence.
Now, that transformative energy has arrived in Tucson.
The Visionary Behind the Movement
Before we dive into the evening's magic, we must recognize the woman who made it all possible: Angela McIllece, HeroicAZ Tucson Chapter Leader.
Angela's energy and unwavering commitment to bringing Heroic to Tucson and Southern Arizona transformed a vision into reality. This wasn't just an event she organized—it was a dream she believed into existence. Her dedication to elevating her community, her ability to rally diverse voices around a shared mission, and her embodiment of Heroic principles created the foundation for everything that unfolded on October 16th.
Every meaningful connection made that evening, every inspired conversation, every moment of transformation—it all traces back to Angela's courage to say "yes" to this calling and her relentless work to bring it to life. She didn't just plan an event; she ignited a movement.
Thank you, Angela, for your soul force, your leadership, and your belief that Tucson deserves to rise together.
An Evening That Embodied Excellence
The Heroic Tucson Launch was a masterclass in meaningful event design. Every detail—from the intimate venue setup to the carefully curated program—reflected the Heroic ideals of clarity, energy, courage, and community.
Speakers Who Moved Hearts and Minds
Karla Bernal Morales and Oscar Lizardi delivered talks that weren't just heard—they were felt. Both speakers emphasized courage, integrity, and community engagement with an authenticity that left the audience visibly moved. These weren't polished corporate presentations. They were personal Heroic journeys shared vulnerably, powerfully, and with profound impact.
As one attendee reflected: "The speaker stories were everything."
A Workshop That Sparked Transformation
Noé Arroyo Williams facilitated a mini-workshop on Antifragility that brought Heroic philosophy to life. With energy and vulnerability, Noé guided participants through genuine reflection and connection—demonstrating how embracing challenge makes us stronger, not weaker. The session perfectly embodied Heroic's commitment to practical wisdom: not just inspiring people, but equipping them with tools to flourish.
Introductions That Elevated the Evening
Steve Weaver's captivating introductions set the tone beautifully, grounding each speaker in purpose and elevating the collective experience. His words reminded everyone in the room why they were there—not just to attend an event, but to be part of something larger than themselves.
Moments That Reminded Us What Matters
In a particularly touching moment, Scott McIntosh acknowledged a 57-year marriage—a living testament to the legacy and commitment Heroic celebrates. It was one of many micro-moments throughout the evening that reinforced the event's emotional heart: this work isn't abstract; it's about real people living real heroic lives.
The Anthem That United Us All
If there was a single moment that captured the essence of the evening, it was the Heroic Tucson Anthem video that served as the finale. Attendees were visibly moved. Some wiped away tears. Others sat in inspired silence.
"The video brought it all together," one participant shared. "It perfectly summed up the spirit of Heroic Tucson."
It was more than a video—it was a rallying cry. A reminder of why this movement matters. A call to rise together.
The Results Speak for Themselves
The post-event feedback wasn't just positive—it was overwhelming:
The comments poured in:
"Great job with the launch! So glad I came!"
"Thank you for all the work and creativity in pulling this together!"
"The overall flow and energy of the evening was incredible."
What Makes Heroic Different
In a world saturated with self-help programs and leadership seminars, Heroic stands apart. Here's why:
Philosophy Meets Practice. Heroic doesn't just preach principles—it provides a proven framework for living them. Every concept is actionable, every teaching is testable, and every practice is designed to close the gap between knowledge and embodiment.
Ancient Wisdom, Modern Science. Drawing from Stoic philosophy, positive psychology, and peak performance research, Heroic synthesizes timeless truths with cutting-edge insights. The result? A comprehensive system for human optimization that actually works.
Community That Cares. This isn't about individual achievement at the expense of connection. Heroic builds communities of allies—people committed to showing up for themselves and each other. The Tucson launch proved this beautifully, with authentic conversations and connections at every table.
Measurable Impact. Heroic isn't interested in feel-good platitudes. The framework is built on measurable practices that compound over time: daily energy optimization, courage-building micro-actions, and legacy-defining decisions. Small steps. Big transformation.
Global Movement, Local Heart. While Heroic's reach is worldwide, its impact is deeply personal and locally rooted. The Tucson chapter joins a growing network of sub-chapters across Arizona and beyond—each bringing Heroic principles to life in their unique communities.
Looking Forward: A Vision Taking Shape
The Heroic Tucson Launch was just the beginning. Under Angela McIllece's continued leadership, the chapter is building toward something extraordinary. As the team looks ahead to the November 13th gathering and beyond, the vision is crystal clear:
Join the Movement
The question isn't whether Tucson needs this movement. October 16th proved it already does—and the community is ready.
The real question is: Will you answer the call?
Whether you're a business leader seeking to elevate your impact, a professional hungry for deeper meaning, or simply someone who knows there's more to life than going through the motions—Heroic Tucson has a place for you.
What happens when you put 2,000 people in the Arizona wilderness for 48 hours, ask them to run 120 miles as a team, and invite them to live in tents with bonfires and beer?
You get Ragnar Trail Relay McDowell Mountain—and this Halloween weekend, Heroic Arizona is diving in headfirst.
The Challenge
Our eight-person team, Team Antifragile, will be out there from Friday afternoon through Sunday, taking turns running three different trail courses through day and night. Eight people. 120 miles total. One unforgettable test of what we're made of.
If you've never experienced a Ragnar event, picture this: a temporary village complete with food trucks, campfires crackling under the stars, exhausted runners cheering each other on at 3 AM, and a community of people who've chosen to do something hard together.
It's messy. It's uncomfortable. It's exactly the kind of challenge that reveals who we are and who we're becoming.
The Opportunity (And the Question)
Here's where it gets interesting.
Ragnar invited us to partner with them by co-sponsoring the event's beer garden—a race tradition where runners celebrate their achievements and refuel between shifts. It's a fundraising opportunity that would put us in front of over 2,000 like-minded people who are literally living out the values we teach: pushing themselves, supporting their teammates, and choosing growth over comfort.
But there's an obvious tension here. At Heroic, we're all about optimal health. We don't promote alcohol—not because we judge anyone who drinks, but because it simply doesn't align with peak performance and wellbeing.
So what do we do with an opportunity that's perfectly aligned with our values in every way except one?
The Solution: Partnership Over Purity
We said yes. But we did it thoughtfully.
We've partnered with Rodney Smith and Grow Space Kitchen, a local startup focused on providing nutritious school lunches to kids who need them. All proceeds from the beer garden will support their school lunch program.
We're also partnering with The Shop Beer Co, a Tempe craft brewer who's created custom cans celebrating this collaboration—souvenir items for participants that mark this weekend's achievement.
Here's the setup: Two side-by-side tents at the race village.
Tent One (Grow Space Kitchen / Beer Garden): Craft beer and non-alcoholic beverages, fundraising for children's nutrition.
Tent Two (Heroic Arizona): Our home base for connecting with runners, sharing our mission, and inviting people into the work we're doing.
Are we going to keep these completely separate? Of course not. We're going to celebrate every single person at that event—because that's who we are.
Why This Matters
Here's what we believe: Connection over separation. Showing up over staying pure. Meeting people where they are while inviting them toward something more.
These 2,000 runners? They're our people. They've chosen to do hard things. They're supporting each other through the night. They're proving what's possible when you commit fully to a goal.
Yes, some of them will celebrate with a beer. And yes, we'll be right there—supporting a cause we believe in while sharing a vision of what optimal living looks like.
How You Can Be Part of This
We need volunteers for both tents—and here's what's in it for you:
You'll get a special Team Antifragile shirt (check out the design below—it's fantastic).
You'll be part of an incredible community gathering with over 2,000 people who are choosing challenge over comfort.
You'll help support a school lunch program that's getting nutritious food to kids who need it.
You'll represent Heroic Arizona to a whole new audience of people who might be ready for what we offer.
Volunteer Shifts Needed:
Whether you want to work the beer garden (supporting Grow Space Garden's cause), staff the Heroic Arizona tent (sharing our mission), or just show up to cheer on Team Antifragile—we'd love to have you.
The Bottom Line
This weekend isn't about alcohol. It's not even really about running.
It's about a community of people who understand that growth happens outside our comfort zones. It's about showing up, supporting each other, and proving what's possible when we commit.
And it's about Heroic Arizona being willing to step into new spaces, meet new people, and trust that our values are strong enough to stand on their own—even next to a beer tent.
Want to volunteer? Reply to this post or contact us at [contact information]. Let us know which shifts work for you and which tent you'd prefer.
Want to follow along? Watch for updates on [social media channels] throughout the weekend. We'll be sharing the highs, the lows, and everything in between as Team Antifragile takes on 120 miles together.
Let's see what we're made of.
In energy, work, and love, The Heroic Arizona Team
We live in an age of fracture. Political divides have deepened into chasms that separate not just strangers on social media, but friends across dinner tables and family members at holiday gatherings. Too often, we've witnessed—or experienced firsthand—relationships strained or even severed because we've collectively decided that certain topics are simply "off limits."
This past weekend, I found myself at a new neighbor's home where politics inevitably surfaced in conversation. As passion rose in one participant's voice, the rest of us began an awkward dance—stepping carefully around land mines, retreating from engagement, protecting ourselves from potential conflict. We escaped unscathed, but also unchanged and, perhaps, a little more distant.
This epidemic of conversational avoidance represents more than mere social discomfort. It signals a failure of one of humanity's most essential skills: the ability to navigate disagreement without destroying connection.
At Heroic Arizona, our primary focus is building local community—but not community defined by political alignment or religious uniformity. We're gathering people who are like-minded in a deeper sense: individuals committed to being the best they can be in life, work, and relationships, while helping others in their circles of influence do the same.
This commitment to human flourishing inevitably creates beautiful diversity. When you gather people around the shared pursuit of optimal living—integrating ancient wisdom, modern positive psychology, and practical tools for thriving—you attract people from vastly different backgrounds, with different political perspectives, varied religious beliefs, and diverse life experiences.
That's not a bug in our system; it's a feature.
As we exchange ideas and learn from each other, we focus primarily on best practices: What's working? How are you implementing these principles? What have you discovered? But here's the reality we can't ignore: if we're serious about our vision of a world where 51 percent of humanity is flourishing, we cannot sidestep the difficult conversations about the challenges that divide us.
We don't seek conflict for its own sake. But we refuse to let discomfort prevent us from engaging with the very real issues that affect human flourishing. And so, in that spirit, Heroic Arizona offers these suggestions—not as abstract theory, but as practical tools to help each of us lean into, rather than run from, the sometimes difficult conversations we actually need.
For decades, I've followed the work of Dr. Chester L. Karrass, a master teacher of negotiation. Most people don't think of a heart-to-heart conversation with a friend or family member as a "negotiation," but that's precisely what it is when viewpoints differ. You're not negotiating a contract or a salary—you're negotiating understanding, respect, and the possibility of changed minds or, at minimum, preserved relationships.
The art of negotiation isn't about winning; it's about navigating complexity with skill, patience, and strategic grace. And from a heroic perspective, these are tools we desperately need in our heroic toolkit.
Dr. Karrass offers eight principles for persuading someone to accept your viewpoint. I'd like to share them here, framed through our heroic lens—because the courage to engage authentically with those who disagree with us may be one of the most heroic acts available to us today.
1. Talk less, listen more.
The heroic impulse might be to speak truth boldly, but true courage often lies in the discipline of silence. When you give someone the space to be fully heard, you gain insights into not just their position, but the experiences and values that shaped it. Listening is an act of respect that invites reciprocity. The other person will be far more attentive to your perspective once they feel you've genuinely received theirs.
In our Heroic Arizona community, this principle is foundational. We're not trying to create echo chambers where everyone already agrees. We're creating spaces where diverse perspectives can be genuinely heard—because that's where real learning happens.
2. Don't interrupt.
Interruption is a form of dismissal. It says, "What I have to say matters more than what you're saying." It triggers defensiveness and closes doors to understanding. The heroic conversationalist exercises the self-control to let ideas land completely before responding—even when every fiber wants to correct, clarify, or counter.
3. Don't be belligerent.
When we feel strongly about something—and these days, who doesn't?—harshness comes more naturally than gentleness. But an aggressive tone produces defensive reactions, not open minds. A soft-spoken approach, delivered with conviction rather than aggression, invites the same in return. Remember: you're trying to change someone's mind, not bludgeon them into submission.
If our goal is truly human flourishing, we must model the very qualities we hope to cultivate: strength tempered with grace, conviction paired with humility.
4. Don't hurry to bring up your own points.
Patience is heroic. There's tremendous power in fully receiving someone's complete viewpoint before offering your own. This isn't weakness or capitulation—it's strategic wisdom. You can't effectively respond to what you haven't fully understood, and premature presentation of your position often means the other person stops listening, already formulating their rebuttal.
5. Restate the other person's position and objectives as soon as you understand them.
"What I hear you saying is..." This simple practice is transformative. It demonstrates that you've truly listened, forces you to understand their perspective accurately, and creates a foundation of good faith. People don't need you to agree with them to feel respected—they need to know they've been heard. This costs you nothing and opens everything.
This practice aligns perfectly with the Heroic Arizona approach. We're here to understand best practices and learn from each other—and you can't learn from someone whose position you haven't accurately understood.
6. Identify the key issue and stick to it.
Difficult conversations often sprawl into tangential arguments that obscure the central disagreement. The heroic conversationalist identifies the core issue and returns to it repeatedly. Cover one point at a time. Don't attempt to overwhelm with a barrage of arguments. Depth trumps breadth in changing minds.
7. Don't digress and try to keep the other person from digressing.
Three tactics help here: temporarily agree on nonessential points to move forward, agree to discuss some issues later, and gently identify when something isn't relevant to the central question. This requires both clarity of purpose and diplomatic skill—heroic qualities both.
8. Be "for" a point of view, not "against" one.
Framing matters enormously. When you position yourself as advocating FOR something rather than AGAINST your conversation partner's position, you reduce defensiveness and create space for alignment. You're inviting them toward something compelling, not attacking what they already hold dear.
At Heroic Arizona, we're FOR human flourishing. We're FOR optimal living. We're FOR helping each person become the best version of themselves. This positive framing creates space for people with vastly different political or religious views to find common ground in shared aspirations.
Perhaps the most crucial insight Karrass offers is this: changing someone's mind takes time.
You're asking someone to exchange your new ideas for their old ones—to discard what has become familiar, comfortable, perhaps even part of their identity. Right or wrong, people grow attached to their viewpoints the way they grow attached to old friends. Expecting someone to make an immediate shift is unrealistic and unfair.
Give people time to assimilate what you've shared. Let your ideas marinate. The conversation that matters most is often the one that continues in someone's mind after you've parted ways.
This is why building ongoing community matters so much. A single conversation rarely transforms anyone. But sustained relationships, where diverse perspectives engage repeatedly over time, create the conditions for genuine growth and understanding.
The heroic path isn't to avoid difficult conversations or to wage them like battles where only one side can win. The heroic path is to engage with skill, patience, and genuine respect for the humanity of the person across from you.
We have a choice: we can continue to retreat into ideological bunkers, surrounding ourselves only with those who already agree with us, or we can develop the tools and courage to bridge the divides that threaten our relationships and our communities.
The stakes are high. When we lose the ability to talk with those who see the world differently, we don't just lose conversations—we lose relationships, we lose community, and we lose our capacity to solve problems together. And we certainly can't build a world where 51 percent of humanity is flourishing if we can't even talk to half of humanity.
These principles from Karrass aren't just negotiation tactics. They're heroic tools for an age that desperately needs bridge-builders. At Heroic Arizona, we're committed to building community that can hold these difficult conversations—not because we enjoy conflict, but because we're serious about human flourishing, and that requires us to engage with the real challenges that divide us.
Add these tools to your heroic toolkit. Practice them at neighborhood gatherings, family dinners, and in those charged moments when politics inevitably surfaces. Practice them in our Heroic Arizona community as we learn from people whose backgrounds and beliefs differ from our own.
The world needs fewer people who know they're right and more people who know how to talk with those who disagree. That's the heroic conversation our moment demands.
What difficult conversation have you been avoiding? What would become possible if you approached it with these tools? And how might you help build the kind of community where such conversations can happen with respect, curiosity, and genuine care for human flourishing?
Learn more about Heroic Arizona and join our community of diverse individuals committed to optimal living at HeroicAZ.us.
This isn’t just another event. This is a beginning.
On October 16, 2025, we will gather in Tucson for the Heroic Tucson Launch—not simply to attend, but to rise. To step into who we are truly capable of being. To declare, together, that we will no longer settle for half-lived lives or half-hearted efforts.
Heroic exists for a single, audacious mission: a world where 51% of humanity is flourishing by 2051. That’s not just a dream. It’s a call to action. And it starts here.
Every one of us has a role to play. In our homes. In our workplaces. In our communities. To lead with more clarity. To live with more energy. To love with more courage. To commit, moment to moment, to being the best version of ourselves—not someday, but today.
Flourishing isn’t for the few. It’s for all of us. And when we choose to rise, we create ripples that change the world around us. This is what Heroic Tucson is about: a community of people committed to showing up differently. Boldly. Heroically.
The launch is not about sitting back and consuming inspiration. It’s about activation. It’s about locking arms with others who refuse to live passively. It’s about standing together as a new kind of community—one that strives, serves, and lifts.
The world doesn’t need more bystanders. It needs more builders. More creators. More everyday heroes who decide, again and again, to rise to the challenge of life.
And that’s what we’re inviting you into.
If your soul stirs at the thought of becoming more—if you’re ready to bring out the best in yourself, your colleagues, your family, your community—then this is your moment.
On October 16th, Heroic Tucson begins. Together, we’ll light a fire that doesn’t stop in Tucson—it spreads across Arizona and beyond.
This is your invitation. Your challenge. Your call to rise.
Will you take your place?
Register
Join us Thursday, September 18th, 5-7 PM for the Heroic Arizona September Member + Guest Meeting
What Is Heroic? Let's Answer This Together
If you've ever struggled to explain what Heroic is to a friend or family member, you're not alone. How do you succinctly capture something that weaves together ancient stoic wisdom, modern positive psychology, and practical behavioral tools? How do you describe a movement that's both deeply personal and globally ambitious—working toward 51% of humanity flourishing by 2051?
The truth is, Heroic isn't just one thing. It's a comprehensive approach to human potential that combines:
But here's what we've discovered: the most powerful way to understand Heroic isn't through explanation—it's through story.
A Different Kind of Meeting: Your Stories Matter
This September gathering marks a pivotal shift in how we build community together. In past meetings, we've focused heavily on teaching and presenting. While education matters, we've realized something crucial: real community engagement happens when we learn from each other's lived experiences.
As we prepare to expand Heroic throughout Arizona—from our established Phoenix community to our historic Tucson launch in October—we need to model what authentic local community looks like. That means moving beyond one-way teaching to genuine two-way sharing.
The Roundtable Magic We're Bringing to You
Our weekly Heroic Arizona roundtables have become something special. While we always include a brief teaching moment, the real transformation happens when participants share their heroic journeys with each other. We're bringing this proven format to our September meeting.
Come prepared to share:
Your Hero Bar
What's something significant you accomplished or overcame this past week? This could be:
Your Micro Moment of Awesome ✨
What small action did you take that made someone smile or changed a life in some tiny way? Remember:
Why Your Story Matters
When you share your hero bar, you're not just celebrating your growth—you're giving others permission to see what's possible. When you describe your micro moment of awesome, you're demonstrating how Heroic principles show up in daily life.
This is how we answer "What is Heroic?"—not through abstract concepts, but through concrete examples of real people living with greater purpose, vitality, and joy.
Our Mission in Action
At Heroic, we're on a mission to help people and teams express their full potential and live with greater purpose, vitality and joy, so together we can help 51% of humanity flourish by 2051. Our vision is to make personal development accessible to everyone.
But missions aren't fulfilled through corporate strategies alone. They're fulfilled when individuals like you discover their heroic potential and share it with their community. They're fulfilled when local gatherings become laboratories for human flourishing.
The Bigger Picture: Building Arizona's Foundation
This September meeting launches our most ambitious fall season yet:
Each event builds on the last, and it all starts with the authentic community connections we'll forge on September 19th.
Ready to Share Your Heroic Journey?
Whether you're new to Heroic or a longtime community member, come prepared to:
This isn't just another meeting—it's a chance to be part of something historic. As we build the Heroic movement across Arizona, your story becomes part of the larger narrative of human potential and community transformation.
When: Thursday, September 18th, 5-7 PM Register: heroicaz.us/event-6242847
Come as you are. Bring your stories. Let's discover together what it truly means to be Heroic.
Ready to be part of Arizona's growing community of heroes? Your story matters, your journey inspires others, and your presence makes our mission stronger. We can't wait to celebrate your hero bars and micro moments of awesome with you.
#HeroicAZ #CommunityStories #ArizonaHeroes #BeHeroic
This has been a profound week for me personally. Jim Redpath, the mentor whose philosophy shaped my approach to leadership and life, passed away. As I've reflected on his incredible legacy, I felt called to celebrate his life through the lens of everything I believe about heroism, culture-building, and creating positive change.
Jim Redpath embodied what it truly means to be a hero throughout his remarkable life. At its core, heroism is about having the strength to care deeply, to act with integrity, and to make sacrifices for the greater good. As the founder of what became The Redpath Group, a billion-dollar global mining contracting business, he didn't just build a company—he created a philosophy that continues to ripple through countless lives more than six decades later. My story is just a very small part of Jim's legacy, but it illustrates the transformative power of a leader who understood that true success comes from touching lives, not just building businesses.
The Unconventional Beginning
In 1962, most underground mining contractors followed the same path: work your way up from laborer to supervisor to manager, then after a decade or two, strike out on your own. Jim Redpath rewrote that script. At just 26 years old, armed with a mining engineering degree and a revolutionary vision, he started J.S. Redpath Limited with an audacious belief: engineering expertise could transform how vertical shaft construction was done.
His early brochures captured the adventurous spirit that would define Redpath. One showed Jim swimming next to an iceberg while his company supported a far northern mine with a cable car system extending high to a cliff, where Redpath employees—true mountaineers—created access for miners to excavate into the side of the cliff. That photo changed my life. As a young civil engineer working at Climax Molybdenum Company in Colorado in 1974, I saw that image and said to myself: "I need to figure out how to work for this company."
The Philosophy That Changed Everything
What made Jim different wasn't just his engineering background or entrepreneurial spirit—it was his philosophy. From the beginning, he established that "the focus of every employee must be on doing a good job for the client" with guidelines built on being "honest, fair and responsible" and "safety first, last and always."
When I finally joined Redpath in 1979 at their new US headquarters in Tempe, Arizona, I was immediately exposed to what we called the Redpath Philosophy and Guidelines for Success. These weren't just words on a wall—they were living principles that guided every decision, every project, every interaction.
The Master of Questions
Jim possessed a remarkable gift: the art of asking questions. During project reviews, his questions seemed unending. You had better be prepared when you participated in a meeting with Jim. But here's what made him extraordinary—his questions were never meant to put anyone to shame. His curiosity and methodology always led individuals to become better people and engineers.
This questioning approach became part of who I am. Like Jim, I became deeply curious about people and ideas. Some might wonder how long these questions can go on, but Jim taught me that curiosity is the gateway to growth. His deep caring came through in every interaction, never making people feel diminished, but always challenging them to rise higher.
The University of Redpath
Perhaps the most remarkable testament to Jim's impact was something we called "The University of Redpath"—not a university in the traditional sense, but a place where everyone learned and grew. The curious fact was that most of our competition had come through Redpath. Our best competitors had grown up in our organization first.
But here's the beautiful paradox: we loved our competition because they shared our same values and did mine contracting the right way—caring about customers and employees. We were fierce competitors, but competitors with whom we could always share a beer at the end of the day. Jim hadn't just built a company; he had launched an entire movement of ethical, innovative mining contractors around the world.
The Mentorship That Transformed My Life
In 1993, during a major industry downturn, Jim faced a difficult decision: sell or shut down the engineering division that was losing money. The entrepreneur in me rose to the occasion. Between Jim and me, an idea emerged—I would buy two-thirds of the failing engineering business.
The rules were simple: I had put cash into the business, but Redpath wouldn't put in another cent. If I failed, I would lose my investment. But the real treasure wasn't the business opportunity—it was that Jim became my mentor.
Jim had pursued his passion for art and had an office on Main Street in North Bay, filled with amazing high-end art. I would bring sub sandwiches to meet with him, and he would ask questions in the way he always did—challenging me constantly. What a gift.
Jim met with me regularly during those early months, bringing submarine sandwiches to his art-filled office on Main Street in North Bay. He would ask his characteristic penetrating questions, challenging me to think differently about every aspect of the business. When I was running the engineering business while trying to do everything myself—including the accounting—Jim saw I was spread too thin. He told me I had to hire an accountant. When I said I couldn't afford to, he said, "You can't afford not to."
Jim understood something I was too close to see: I could do the accounting, but that didn't mean I should be doing the accounting. With a desperate need to generate revenue, I had much better things to focus on. His lesson wasn't really about accounting—it was about learning to build a team and recognizing that trying to do everything yourself is a recipe for failure.
He was right, of course. That lesson about building teams and focusing on what only I could do has governed every business decision I've made since.
The Steward of a Legacy
Throughout my entrepreneurial journey, I never felt like just a business owner. I felt like a steward of the legacy Jim had built. Even as we evolved from Redpath McIntosh to McIntosh Redpath to ultimately McIntosh Engineering, we maintained Jim's philosophy and guidelines for success firmly in place.
When we created our own mission and vision statement, we developed what we called the "McIntosh Engineering Commitments Statement"—a unique blend of purpose, values, and safety commitments. It embodied Jim's original philosophy while adapting to our specific mission. Our commitment statement became our culture, and I didn't realize the power of a strong culture until many years later.
When Stantec acquired McIntosh Engineering in 2008, something remarkable happened. Our commitments statement was on every employee's desk, and Stantec employees who integrated with our business wanted their own copy. Jim's influence had expanded to touch even more lives.
High-Performing Teams: Jim's Living Legacy
The lessons I learned from Jim continue to guide my work with MAC6 and Heroic Arizona, particularly in developing high-performing teams:
Trust: Jim built a culture that created deep trust. His focus on what was in the best interest of the customer long-term solved nearly every people issue we faced.
Productive Conflict: At Redpath, we had strong personalities who shared their opinions forcefully in meetings, sometimes with colorful field construction language. But it rarely got personal because we cared about each other and our customers. This productive conflict, grounded in shared values and trust, made us stronger.
Commitment: We were all committed to Jim and the culture he had built. We were going to compete and win, together.
Mutual Accountability: Everything was done as a team. We were accountable to each other, and with that philosophy, we couldn't fail.
Focus on Results: Behind all the caring and culture was a fierce focus on outcomes. The northern Canadian wilderness environment that shaped Jim taught us that obstacles make us stronger, and bottom-line results were necessary for survival and success.
The Ripple Effect Continues
My story is just one thread in the vast tapestry of lives Jim touched. Each member of the Redpath family has their own story of how Jim influenced their life, their career, their understanding of what it means to lead with integrity. Hundreds, if not thousands, of individuals—customers, employees, competitors who learned from him—carry forward his philosophy into their own lives and organizations.
Even though I separated from Redpath when engineering split off, I have always felt and been welcomed by many as part of the Redpath family. The values Jim instilled, the philosophy he created, the culture he built—these became part of who I am, regardless of where my career path led me. And I know I'm not alone in this feeling. Jim had a unique ability to make people feel they belonged to something bigger than themselves, something that transcended any single project or employment relationship.
This is the true power of heroism: the ripple effect of small actions, multiplied through hundreds of lives. Jim understood something profound about leadership—that our micro moments, those brief interactions where we touch another person's life with a thoughtful question, genuine care, or unwavering integrity, create waves that extend far beyond what we can see.
All of us who were shaped by Jim's leadership—whether we stayed with Redpath our entire careers or went on to start our own companies—became carriers of his philosophy. We learned to ask better questions, to put the customer first, to prioritize safety above all else, to be honest and fair and responsible. We took these lessons and applied them in boardrooms and underground construction sites, in our own businesses and in our relationships with our own employees and families.
Our Call to Continue the Legacy
We've seen how Jim's approach to business created not just successful projects but successful people. We've witnessed how his commitment to asking the right questions, caring deeply about outcomes, and never compromising on values created a culture that transcended any individual location or project. Many of us have taken these principles to other companies, other industries, other parts of the world—but we remain connected by the common foundation Jim gave us.
The mining industry today is better because Jim Redpath showed us all a different way to do business. The hundreds of people who learned from him directly, and the thousands more who learned from us, carry forward a tradition of excellence, integrity, and genuine care that extends far beyond any single company's success.
Jim's life teaches us that true leadership isn't about the size of your company or the scope of your influence—it's about how deeply you care, how consistently you live by your principles, and how many lives you touch with integrity and service. Whether someone spent two years or twenty years with Redpath, whether they're still there today or moved on decades ago, whether they're part of the Redpath family or simply aspire to create something similar—Jim's influence shows us what's possible when we lead with purpose.
We all have opportunities each and every day to touch the lives of others. Let's all think like Jim, act with curiosity and genuine care, and remember that our small actions can create massive ripple effects in the lives we encounter.
We honor Jim Redpath by continuing to live the philosophy he taught us. We celebrate his life by staying committed to the guidelines for success he established. In doing so, we ensure that his ripples continue to spread through our own careers, our own teams, our own families—creating waves of positive change that will touch generations to come.
The University of Redpath never really closed. It just spread to wherever each of us landed. And that's exactly how Jim would have wanted it.
In memory of Jim Redpath - Founder, mentor, and inspiration to countless lives. His legacy lives on in every person who chooses to lead with integrity, serve customers first, and build others up along the way.
