This episode: From Vietnam to Visionary: John Graham’s Journey to Purpose and Impact.
Here’s what you’ll learn about:
John Graham’s Introduction and Purpose (0:07)
- Host Drew Deraney thanks Guest John Graham for connecting on LinkedIn and expresses excitement about his story.
- Drew discusses the linear view of life taught by society and introduces the three types of men: blind spots, victim mentality, and self-awareness.
- Drew identifies John and himself as the third type of man who seeks to overcome adversity and become a stronger person.
- John is asked to share defining moments that led to his self-awareness and transformation.
John’s Early Life and Vietnam Experience (2:53)
- John recounts his early life filled with physical adventures, which were self-absorbed and lacked compassion.
- He describes his experience in Vietnam as a civilian advisor, where he realized the war was wrong and his motivations were shallow.
- John shares a pivotal moment during a battle in Vietnam where he nearly died, leading to a profound realization of the shallowness of his life.
- He returned to the U.S. with PTSD and began to heal through encounter groups, discovering his compassionate side.
Transition to the United Nations and Personal Growth (9:20)
- John discusses his transition to the United Nations, where he worked on issues like apartheid and global poverty.
- He acknowledges his backsliding but emphasizes the importance of his newfound compassion and desire to do good.
- John quit the State Department to focus on writing and speaking and faced financial struggles and naivety about the impact of his work.
- He met Anne Medlock, who inspired him to join the Giraffe Heroes Project, which focused on telling stories of people taking risks to make the world better.
The Giraffe Heroes Project and Personal Challenges (12:45)
- John explains the Giraffe Heroes Project, which uses storytelling to inspire people to take risks for positive change.
- He shares a near-death experience on a cruise ship, which led to a message from a higher power urging him to take his ideals seriously.
- John emphasizes the importance of finding meaning in life through service and giving back.
- He discusses his public presentations and the impact of his stories on audiences, encouraging them to find meaning in their own lives.
John’s Relationship with Anne and Continued Work (19:05)
- John recounts his rapid courtship with Anne Medlock, who inspired him to join the Giraffe Heroes Project.
- He describes the project’s evolution and its continued impact through social media.
- John introduces his latest venture, “Badass Granddad,” a series of short videos on TikTok and Instagram aimed at young people.
- He encourages listeners to follow him on social media and emphasizes the importance of storytelling in inspiring positive change.
Advice for Young John and Entrepreneurs (26:10)
- John advises young John to believe in himself and find his strength, despite a difficult childhood.
- He emphasizes the importance of looking beyond financial success to find meaning in life through service and compassion.
- John advises entrepreneurs to consider the impact of their work on their community and environment, beyond financial success.
- He encourages entrepreneurs to use their skills and resources to solve difficult problems and make a positive difference in the world.
Final Thoughts and Contact Information (29:25)
- John shares his memoir, “Quest: Risk, Adventure, and the Search for Meaning,” which chronicles his life and journey.
- Speaker 1 thanks John for his Wisdom and encourages listeners to connect with him through email or social media.
- John expresses gratitude for the opportunity to share his story and continue his work.
- The conversation concludes with mutual appreciation and a commitment to stay in touch.
To learn more about John’s mission, go to his LinkedIn profile at https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnagraham1/
or his website http://www.giraffe.org/
John’s Bio: John Graham
John Graham shipped out on a freighter when he was 16, hitchhiked through the Algerian Revolution at 19 and was on the team that made the first ascent of Denali’s North Wall at 20, a climb so dangerous it’s never been repeated. He hitchhiked around the world at 22, working as a correspondent in every war he came across. A US Foreign Service Officer for 15 years, he was in the middle of the 1969 revolution in Libya and the war in Vietnam. To the young Graham, adventure was everything, and each brush with death only pushed him to up the ante—and to bury ever deeper the emotional life needed to make him whole.
Then it changed, sometimes slowly, sometimes dramatically, including during one night at the height of a battle in Vietnam. At the United Nations he risked his career, crossing his own government to support peace initiatives in South Africa and Cuba. Then came the all-or-nothing bet he was forced to make, fighting for his life in a lifeboat in the middle of a typhoon when his ship caught fire and sank in the Gulf of Alaska.
For the last 35 years Graham has been a leader of the Giraffe Heroes Project, a global movement inspiring people to stick their necks out to solve public problems and giving them tools to succeed. He’s helped end apartheid in South Africa, avert a major strike in Canada, save what’s left of the Everglades, settle a war in the Sudan, find long-term environmental solutions in the Pacific Northwest and build bridges between the Muslim world and the West.
His books include a memoir, QUEST: Risk, Adventure, and the Search for Meaning and a web book Denali Diary, an account of a 1963 first ascent that has become an epic in North American mountaineering.
About your host: I’m Drew Deraney, the proud father of three children. For most of my life I’ve been concerned with what people thought of me and how I was supposed to act. I learned not to be my authentic self and instead became a people pleaser, a man wearing a mask.
In a 9-month span a few years ago, I endured four faith-shaking life events that caused me to question my existence.
I became determined to find a better way to live. Through intense self-reflection and awareness, I realized that in order to be happy, I must adhere to my standards of honesty, integrity and truth and needed to break free from the belief system that was anchored in me for close to 50 years.
I believe that success happens when we find a better way and are willing and able to share it. HOW I do that is by challenging the status quo and thinking differently. Ultimately, WHAT I bring is a way to contribute and add value by having an impact on the lives of others.
My company, Profit Compassion LLC consists of 3 paths:
The Mindful Man Movement: men’s mindset and self-discovery coach, speaker, podcast host, author. For Men Seeking Purpose: I believe that every man has the right to write his own story. If you feel lost or disconnected from your true self, I offer Coaching that fosters self-discovery and personal growth. Together, we will uncover your authentic purpose and create a roadmap for your life.
The Caregiver Coach: community organizer, mentor, coach, connector and advocate for families with special needs, specifically autism spectrum disorder. For Caregivers: I understand the challenges faced by those caring for individuals with high-functioning autism. The support services landscape can be overwhelming, and I am here to provide Clarity and guidance. My mission is to care for the caregiver, ensuring that you have the tools and support needed to thrive on this journey.
Business Solutions: health/wellness and financial services to support individuals and businesses.
Join me in transforming challenges into opportunities for growth. Let’s embark on this journey together.
HOW TO CONNECT WITH COACH DREW:
Website: https://profitcompassion.com/
Email: drew@profitcompassion.com
Book a discovery call: https://link.mavericksystems.online/widget/bookings/netweaving/connect30
Pick up a copy of Drew’s book: https://amzn.to/40dsbyR or https://bit.ly/BandNDrew
Drew Deraney now travels the world both to Live and Virtual Events showing mostly men the steps needed to strengthen self-identity and self-worth, to overcome self-limiting beliefs, and to build confidence while being authentic, maintaining boundaries and to transcend people pleasing skills to become the person they are destined to be. Drew challenges them to reach deep inside and make a lasting impact.
In a 9-month span, Drew experienced a grueling divorce, job loss, his son’s suicidal ideations, and his father’s death which devastated Drew emotionally, mentally, physically, and spiritually. It is a commonality for men to consider any challenge as a weakness as well as to show emotion and ask for help. While writing his book, Drew realized he was not the only man suffering in silence. With more clarity of purpose than ever, he began asking for help. Drew Deraney’s mission is to help especially men, release their inner greatness by showing vulnerability, keeping in integrity of their power, and making a great impact on the people in their lives both personally and professionally.
Drew Deraney was born in Brooklyn, NY and raised in Ho-Ho-Kus, NJ where he still lives to this day caring for his elderly mom and his 3 adult children Matthew, Nicholas, and Emma. Drew earned his B.A. in Psychology, M.A. in Applied Psychology, and two psychology research publications while at Fairfield University; a scholarship from the Healthcare Financial Management Association; and his M.B.A. in Health Care Administration from Baruch College / Mount Sinai School of Medicine in NY. His hospital career spanned 24 years where he was co-chair of the Leadership Institute, spoke at JD Power, was one of three leaders interviewed by The Commonwealth Fund, received his Communicating with Empathy Trainer certification and is a Certified Patient Experience Professional. Four years ago, Drew founded Profit Compassion LLC, an entity to coach and empower mostly men to create resiliency and authenticity as Chief Resilience Officer. Drew is the podcast host of ‘From Caving in to Crushing It’ and recently became a best-selling author with his book ‘I’ll Have What She’s Having’ - Memoir of a reformed People Pleaser.
