In this, his final Firepit Chat! our fearless, leader, MDI President since 2024, has his swan song. Well, the song of some large, flightless bird, at least. And herein is, in his own estimation, how his term has gone. The good, the less good. The fulfilled and the still-to-be-done. The judgement of history is the fate of every president but here, at least, is the man’s own Report Card.
[On a last editorial note, Legacy Magazine would like to thank President Christopher for his unwavering support and for his service to the organization. – the Editor]
In my experience, asking men to be in relationship is the hard part. “Oh, it’s too late. He’ll be busy. He has other friends,” blah, blah, blah. The BS we tell our selves is endless. Any of this sound familiar? Isn’t this the same banter we tell ourselves and our teammates when we think about asking a man to come to a team meeting or an MDI event we’re having? Well, as they teach in The Art of Masculinity (TAOM), STOP IT!
These past two-plus years have brought many new men into my life. I did not start out thinking, great, I am going to make a ton of new friends! I thought it was all about doing the work but, as I reflect, it’s that by being in relationship with these men I have made a lot of new friends.
The time element is pretty simple too. Want to spend time with a man, or anyone for that matter? Just ask. That is where I have often hesitated. I let the self-talk tell me the man is too busy or I let doubt creep in and talk me out of inviting him to be part of my life. The biggest mistake I make is failing to ask a man to let me in.
Lest we think, well I could easily ask an MDI man, but that would never work with men outside the organization, I challenge us all to ask, why not? As they say in golf, 100 percent of all putts left short never go in. I would translate that here to 100 percent of invitations never made go unaccepted.
This month, our magazine’s fearless editor posited a fascinating question: “Why is it so difficult for men to make friends?” Bah, I say to that. Humbug!
Men enjoy the company of men. So, how come we think making friends is hard?
In my experience, asking men to be in relationship is the hard part. “Oh, it’s too late. He’ll be busy. He has other friends,” blah, blah, blah. The BS we tell our selves is endless. Any of this sound familiar? Isn’t this the same banter we tell ourselves and our teammates when we think about asking a man to come to a team meeting or an MDI event we’re having? Well, as they teach in The Art of Masculinity (TAOM), STOP IT!
These past two-plus years have brought many new men into my life. I did not start out thinking, great, I am going to make a ton of new friends! I thought it was all about doing the work but, as I reflect, it’s that by being in relationship with these men I have made a lot of new friends.
This month, our magazine’s fearless editor posited a fascinating question: “Why is it so difficult for men to make friends?” Bah, I say to that. Humbug!
Men enjoy the company of men. So, how come we think making friends is hard?
In my experience, asking men to be in relationship is the hard part. “Oh, it’s too late. He’ll be busy. He has other friends,” blah, blah, blah. The BS we tell our selves is endless. Any of this sound familiar? Isn’t this the same banter we tell ourselves and our teammates when we think about asking a man to come to a team meeting or an MDI event we’re having? Well, as they teach in The Art of Masculinity (TAOM), STOP IT!
These past two-plus years have brought many new men into my life. I did not start out thinking, great, I am going to make a ton of new friends! I thought it was all about doing the work but, as I reflect, it’s that by being in relationship with these men I have made a lot of new friends.
About the Author
Chris Christopher is the sitting president of Mentor, Discover, Inspire (MDI), an international non-profit men’s organization dedicated to mentoring men to live with excellence, hence to become better husbands, fathers and leaders.
Christopher earned a bachelor’s in economics and political science from Northwestern University and a law degree and MBA from the University of Virginia. He is a partner at Darden Brothers, a private equity firm he co-founded in 1995. It is, among other things, the largest independent battery distributor in Canada.
Christopher lives in San Diego, California, and has two adult children.
About the Author:
