A letter from Eldredge

Brother,

35 to 45 may be the most critical decade of our lives.

By now, life has thrown you the same curveballs it's thrown me. Bills. Disappointments. Kids. Career. Enough for you to look around and say, "Aight. Life is real now."

And if we're honest, most of us aren't where we want to be. That doesn't mean we're doing bad. It means we're clear there's more.

Here's what I know: the older we get, the less time, energy, and opportunity we have. But we're still young. Sit down with any man in his 50s or 60s and he'll tell you he'd give anything to be back in this decade, because this is where he laid the foundation for everything that came after. This decade defined him.

Some of us set the tone in our 20s. A lot of us missed the mark, or missed the moment to set ourselves up the way we wanted. Either way, we're here now. And what we do in the next ten years sets the tone for the next forty.

That's why I'm building Defining Decade Mastermind. Nine Black men, 35 to 45, by invitation only. We meet every month to build the whole man. We bring in experts, read together, show up to events, share life, and track real progress. And we hold each other to the DDM Code.

If you're reading this, it's because somebody sees something in you. I'd rather not do this decade alone, and I don't think you should either.

Let's lock in.

EldredgeFounder, Defining Decade Mastermind

The four pillars

Spiritual

Inner peace, purpose, and direction

Physical

Health, fitness, and honest check-ins

Financial

Career, business, savings, and investing

Relational

Marriage, fatherhood, family, and brotherhood

Mission

To help my brothers build the whole man in the decade that decides the quality of the rest of our lives, through brotherhood, accountability, and real solutions.

Vision

That every man who joins DDM becomes the ultimate version of the man he always wanted to be.

Application

Tell us where you really are.

Answer honestly. There are no right answers, only real ones. It takes about 15 minutes.

About you

Your why

The four pillars

Rate yourself from 1 to 10 in each area, then answer the question. 1–3: hurting. 4–6: getting by. 7–8: solid. 9–10: thriving.

Commitment

Read the DDM Code
  1. We are not here to gossip. What's said in the room stays in the room.
  2. We are not here to judge. Getting better means hearing honest feedback.
  3. We are not here to argue. We don't have to agree, but we stay respectful.
  4. We are not here to pretend. Be honest about where you really are.
  5. We are not here to spectate. Show up, speak up, participate.
  6. We are not here to make excuses. If you commit to it, do it.
  7. We are not here to scroll. Phones away. Be present.
  8. We are not here to waste time. Start on time, end on time.
  9. We are not here to socialize. The main thing is the main thing.
  10. We are not here to sell. Members are not prospects.
  11. We are not here for free stuff. Respect each man's work.
  12. We are not here to play games. The next 10 years set the tone for the next 40. Lock in.