The Dwayne Kerrigan Podcast 122: Forgiving Yourself and Rebuilding After Failure with Michael Grandjean
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 Destiny
- Mastermind
- Personal goal-setting and written planning practices
- Daily mantras and meditation rituals
- Whiteboard strategic planning
Notable 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 Grandjean
- ”When you're in the bottom you can't see the top. And that's the hardest part of trying to figure out how to get out of it.” - Michael Grandjean
- “We are not meant to walk through this world alone. Humanity is not meant to walk through this world alone.” - Dwayne Kerrigan
- “Luck is labour under correct knowledge” - Dwayne Kerrigan
Michael Grandjean is a serial entrepreneur whose journey from Navy corpsman to construction industry leader exemplifies the American spirit of perseverance and reinvention. His story isn't just about building businesses, it's about getting back up, learning from failure, and proving that resilience isn't just surviving the fall, but using it as a foundation for what comes next.
Links:
Website: itsmissioncritical.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/big.mikeg
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelgrandjean
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Disclaimer: 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.