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What My Boys Taught Me About Building Men
How Cardboard, Tape, and a Little Patience Help Build Capable Men
Geoffrey Griffin
June 13, 2025
Focused Content
Hey Brother,
Today in The Focused Fool…
Focused Purpose
Today’s piece explores what shop class used to teach us, and why letting boys build might be one of the best ways to raise capable, grounded young men.
Focused Partners
Today’s partner spotlight is Quince—high-quality menswear without luxury markups. Timeless basics that look sharp, feel good, and don’t cost a fortune.
Focused Action
This month’s theme: Consistency in Habits
We’re laying the foundation for the man you’re becoming—one small, repeatable action at a time.
Focused Wonder
Spark connection with this question tonight:
"What’s one weird thing you wish adults understood better?"
(Prepare to be humbled—or hilariously corrected.)
Focused Motion
Dr. Becky from Good Inside reminds us that boredom isn’t a problem to fix—it’s an opportunity for kids to grow. Let their stillness do the teaching.
Let’s Go.
You’re not just raising kids. You’re building the future.
Focused Purpose
My son was building a cardboard robot on the garage floor. Scissors, tape, pure focus. I thought it was just play—until I realized I was watching something deeper: the making of a capable young man.
This isn’t about crafts. It’s about what shop class used to teach—confidence, resilience, and how to use your hands to solve real problems.
If you're raising boys in a world that’s forgotten how to build men, this one’s worth your time.
Focused Partners
Splurge on your trip, not your travel wardrobe
Quince believes that quality should never be a luxury, with premium apparel, accessories, and luggage all priced at 50-80% less than competitors.
Ready to upgrade your vacation style? Check out the 2025 Resort Collection.
Focused Action
Every month, The Focused Fool brings you a series of Focused Actions—practical, bite-sized steps designed to help you grow as a father, husband, and man. Each theme is broken down into 12 structured actions (3 per week for 4 weeks) that build on each other, helping you grow with clarity and purpose—one small win at a time.
These aren’t lofty goals or guilt trips. They’re simple, achievable habits designed to make you more consistent, more grounded, and more present.
This month’s theme: Consistency in Habits
Building reliable, repeatable habits that support who you want to become—even when life gets loud.
We’ll start by spotting what’s getting in the way, then build out the tools, reflection, and rhythm needed to make progress automatic. Whether you follow all 12 or just a few, each action is a brick in the foundation of your future self.
✅ Week 1 – Awareness: Spot the Pattern
Before you can build consistent habits, you have to understand why past ones didn’t stick.
This week is about slowing down, taking inventory, and spotting the invisible patterns that keep pulling you off course.
Are your goals too big? Your cues unclear? Your motivation external?
We’re not judging—we’re observing. This is the groundwork.
Track the Habit Drift
Action: List three habits you’ve tried to build—but haven’t been consistent with.
Prompt: What caused each one to fall apart?
Focused Wonder
Focused questions designed to spark meaningful dialogue—whether at the dinner table, during a car ride, or at bedtime. Use these questions to build trust, curiosity, and laughter in your relationships.
What's one weird thing you wish adults understood better?
Focused Motion
Curated videos to help make you think, to motivate, or to just laugh.
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