Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Michael Overlie. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Hi Michael , really happy you were able to join us today and we’re looking forward to sharing your story and insights with our readers. Let’s start with the heart of it all – purpose. How did you find your purpose?
I was lucky. I was only 49 years old when I discovered my purpose. It changed, shifted a bit here and there but I am living it today. It might not be what you think. You see, my purpose has nothing to do with my job title or any external relationship. My purpose came to me after experiencing deep grief after the death of my brother. When I lost the one man in my life I could count on, I was crushed. I cried, wept, sobbed. I was racked with pain. Then, when I was able to calm down, my dog crawled on top of me and just laid there. He filled me with healing energy and love. I had never experienced anything like it. I was also now able to see myself for how I was showing up in the world, and I didn’t like what I saw. I was perpetually angry, sometimes rageful. I blamed everyone else for my misfortunes. I realized right then, I needed to change. My purpose became to Be the Man I Needed. What I mean by that is to Become the Man I Needed when I was growing up. BE a loving person. A compassionate person. A gentle person. I am that now, and I have the great fortune to guide others to the same place.
Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
To start with, I consider myself Exceptionally Ordinary. I no longer chase titles, recognition or societal praise. I have a business that bridges two worlds and creates magic. I help show men, through the relationship with their dogs, how to be better men. I help guide them to a different awareness of themselves and the people and world around them. How cool is that?
Once I had my awakening after grieving my brother, I was ravenous for ways, methods, modalities. I searched all over to find a way to heal my wounds. The more modalities I trained in, the more unsatisfied I became. There is no one thing, no “This is it!” that is going to work for everyone. I came to understand that I had to create my own special sauce, my own recipe to fit my particular needs.
This is where it gets even cooler. Once I started working with Dogs and their Men, I knew the same principles applied to them. I could help guide but I couldn’t heal anyone else. They, in turn, learn and apply what it is they need, not what I think. Do you see the power in this? The ability to choose and create a whole new path for yourself? Amazing!
I have shifted once again in my business and have created a community. A secure, safe space for those Men with Dogs to come together to help guide each other. To support each other and help each other learn how to heal. My hope is that they come, learn, grow and then move on to create their own magic, whatever that looks like. I want each of these men to realize they are capable of creating the life they have been seeking.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
Vulnerability. Vulnerability is a Quality, Skill and Area of Knowledge I needed to embrace and allow. We are taught that Vulnerability is weakness. This is a load of crap. The ability to be vulnerable opens the door to dive into your own issues, ask for help, heal, That takes real strength. Anyone can stay an angry ass their whole life.
Willingess is next on my list. Interestingly it is tied directly to self love and self care. I had to be Willing to look at myself as others saw me. I had to be Willing to admit what a jerk I had been. I had to be Willing to change, open, heal.
Self love/ self care is, as I mentioned, intrinsically tied to Willingness. If you are not Willing to learn to love yourself more, none of this is possible. I had to be Willing to show myself more Self Love and give myself more Self Care. None of this can be forced upon anyone, it would never work.
Tell us what your ideal client would be like?
What a great question! It has been difficult for me to narrow this down because I would love to help everyone. My ideal client is a man with a dog, somewhat successful by current standards (knows how to work hard), is not only open to change but Willing to change, is ready to dedicate time and space to himself and his growth. He has lived experience and has had more than his fair share of setbacks, needs to be over the age of 35- typically due to needing enough life miles to understand. This man has a deep bond with his dog and sometimes hears things like “You love that dog more than me” or “I want to come back as your dog.” He knows he may get his ass handed to him in this process but realizes the benefits far outweigh the risks.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.dogsandmen.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/michael.overlie.52/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-overlie-529057208/
