Location: SOMA/Mission district of San Francisco, CA
What it is: The Authentic Man Program (AMP) presents an opportunity for you, or any man, to get really curious about who he is. This course gave me the tools to feel and understand that the way other people experience me is different, sometimes drastically, from the way I might expect or hope for them to experience me.

At the risk of being slightly dramatic, the best way I can describe it is this: take the movie “The Matrix,” and imagine that you were in the matrix a few days before the events of the movie occur. Even if you ran into Neo and started telling him everything that was about to happen to him — about how the world is actually a computer simulation, that he’s actually asleep in some field somewhere, all of it — there’s no words you could speak such that he would actually understand on a deep level what’s about to happen to him. You just have to do it to get it.

Growth Potential: AMP is targeted to men seeking to improve their understanding of self, especially around women and relationship dynamics. Everyone’s experience is different, but I got an understanding of the behaviors, attitudes and emotions that I had when it came to relationships. The male and female coaches at AMP were excellent at helping me see the dormant, suppressed, and otherwise unexpressed emotions; moreover they were patient and understanding in coaching me to deep breakthroughs around my own hangups.

That all sounds very therapeutic and clinical, which is the most surprising part: of all the people I know, I was the last person on my list of people who need therapy. I didn’t think there was any benefit in talking about my hangups and desires to other people, in fact I was pretty convinced that I didn’t have any major issues to begin with.

Pop Potential: In my AMP, there were a lot of guys who teach traditional pick up courses, which offer a different approach to relationships — and in my opinion, less satisfying. Since taking the course, I’ve seen many, many men who are interested in learning to pick up women also end up taking AMP and finding a more grounded “inner game.” Basically, this course is for any man who wants to improve his relationship skills and dating life, i.e. 99% of men.

“Get Real” Potential: Not often, but sometimes Decker or other leaders of the course will talk about supernatural/energistic, woo-woo type stuff. Having a scientific background, my initial reaction is to cringe at the suggestion of any kind of magical, physical manifestations. C’mon guys, strong are you with the Force, but not that strong!

What I Got out of it: I discovered my innate ability to create badass relationships in my life, whether for a night, a week, months or longer.

Learn more about Authentic Man Program