Chris Cathers and John Gamades bring you Grit Meets Growth... The podcast where we explore the power of getting uncomfortable, making things happen, and creating a magnetic life. Are you ready?
Chris Cathers is the co-founder and CEO of Octellient, an information security expert, advisor and coach, and a cancer survivor.
John Gamades is a co-founder and partner at the marketing agency OrangeBall Creative and the author of the Depth Not Width blog.
Both are proud husbands, dads, and leaders in all they do. Having experienced adversity, challenges, the pressure of being entrepreneurs, Grit Meets Growth is the authentic and raw sharing of their journeys.
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Chris Cathers and John Gamades bring you Grit Meets Growth... The podcast where we explore the power of getting uncomfortable, making things happen, and creating a magnetic life. Are you ready?
Chris Cathers is the co-founder and CEO of Octellient, an information security expert, advisor and coach, and a cancer survivor.
John Gamades is a co-founder and partner at the marketing agency OrangeBall Creative and the author of the Depth Not Width blog.
Both are proud husbands, dads, and leaders in all they do. Having experienced adversity, challenges, the pressure of being entrepreneurs, Grit Meets Growth is the authentic and raw sharing of their journeys.
We talk a lot on this podcast about grit, about living on the edge of your comfort zone, about pushing yourself through the uncomfortable to grow. Today, we’re going deeper.
We’re talking about what happens when the hustle and performance become masks, when we hide behind being “fine” instead of being seen for who we really are. This episode is about vulnerability, authenticity, and the courage to take that mask off. Growth doesn’t happen when we’re pretending to have it all together. It happens when we finally admit we don’t and ask for help.
Five Key Insights:
Hiding Behind the Mask Keeps You Stuck We learn early to hide—covering our flaws, failures, and fears with a mask of “I’m fine.” But that mask becomes a trap. It isolates us, keeps us from real connection, and prevents true healing. Freedom begins when we take it off and allow ourselves to be seen.
Vulnerability Is Strength, Not Weakness Asking for help, admitting you’re struggling, or saying “I don’t have it all together” takes more courage than faking your way through. The real strength lies in owning your story, showing up authentically, and letting others in.
Brotherhood Breaks Isolation When men have a safe place to be honest—like the Built for More community—everything changes. Growth happens when we can talk openly, call each other out in love, and walk through struggles together. Brotherhood builds freedom and accountability.
The Hustle Can Become a Hiding Place Sometimes busyness becomes another mask. We use the hustle to avoid our emotions, silence the pain, or postpone hard conversations. But staying busy isn’t the same as being healthy. Healing starts when we stop hiding behind productivity and start facing what’s really going on.
Growth Lives on the Other Side of Honesty Whether it’s journaling, reflection, or conversations with trusted people, being honest—with yourself and others—creates clarity. When you stop negotiating your non-negotiables and face the truth, your priorities realign, your mindset shifts, and transformation begins.
One Truth: You can’t grow while you’re hiding. Real transformation begins the moment you take off the mask and let yourself be seen.
Grit Meets Growth
Chris Cathers and John Gamades bring you Grit Meets Growth... The podcast where we explore the power of getting uncomfortable, making things happen, and creating a magnetic life. Are you ready?
Chris Cathers is the co-founder and CEO of Octellient, an information security expert, advisor and coach, and a cancer survivor.
John Gamades is a co-founder and partner at the marketing agency OrangeBall Creative and the author of the Depth Not Width blog.
Both are proud husbands, dads, and leaders in all they do. Having experienced adversity, challenges, the pressure of being entrepreneurs, Grit Meets Growth is the authentic and raw sharing of their journeys.
