Hello, Fellow Human.
My name is Tony. I am an author, blogger, certified transformational life coach, relationship coach, certified No More Mr. Nice Guy coach, certified happiness trainer, internet entrepreneur, music nut, comedy nerd, food freak, avid reader, thinker, dreamer, wanderer, traveler, and a bit of a hopeless fucking romantic.
I was born and raised in Omaha, Nebraska. I graduated from the University of Wisconsin with a degree in communications and a minor in Spotted Cow. Then, I moved to Chicago, where I tried my hand at stand-up comedy and studied writing at The Second City. While in Chicago, I experienced debilitating depression, and eventually moved back to Omaha to be closer to my family. I then spent over a decade working in advertising, which – for the most part – I fucking hated.
In 2013, my father, who was the picture of health, died suddenly and unexpectedly while exercising at the gym. For better or worse, this sent me down a path of deep self-exploration, on which I realized that life is simply too short and too unpredictable to settle for anything less than what you truly want.
In 2015, I worked for transformational journalist and ten-time New York Times bestselling author, Neil Strauss (The Game, The Truth, Everybody Loves You When You’re Dead). More than anything, Neil taught me the importance of stepping outside your comfort zone and facing your fears.
In 2016 – determined to make big changes in my life – I packed up my shit and moved to New Orleans, after falling madly in love with the city. Shortly thereafter, I completed my life coaching certification with the Robbins-Madanes Training Center for Strategic Intervention. Strategic Intervention pulls from a variety of disciplines including: Ericksonian therapy, strategic family therapy, human needs psychology, organizational psychology, neurolinguistics, psychology of influence and strategic studies. The term Strategic Intervention was coined by Tony Robbins and his partner, Chloe Madanes, to describe their highly effective change work.
In 2017, I began my work with Dr. Robert Glover, the author of No More Mr. Nice Guy and the founder of TPI University. Dr. Glover is one of the preeminent figures in men’s self-improvement. I have since become one of his certified No More Mr. Nice Guy (NMMNG) coaches, and have helped hundreds of men start living up to their fullest potential. I am beyond grateful that I can call Dr. Glover both a mentor and a close friend.
In 2021, I became a certified happiness trainer after completing a year-long program in the psychology of happiness, which was created by Dr. Tal Ben Shahar. Dr. Tal Ben Shahar is one of the world’s foremost experts on happiness and the creator of the most popular class in the history of Harvard University.
My brutally honest, no-bullshit brand of self-help has been featured in The Huffington Post, YAHOO!, Lifehack, Thought Catalog, Thrive Global, Mindvalley, Elephant Journal, YourTango, The Good Men Project and other places.
I am the founder of The Integrated Man Cave, a self-development website and positive community for men who wish to improve all aspects of their lives, and Integrated Man University, an all-encompassing program dedicating to helping Nice Guys become Integrated Men.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Omaha? That’s in Nebraska, right?
Yes. And no matter where I go, somebody inevitably asks me this question. Omaha is actually a wonderful city with a lot to offer, particularly if you want to settle down and raise a family. I usually just encourage people to read about it on Wikipedia.
Why did you start your blog?
Well, for one thing, I’m a writer who loves writing. And I’m endlessly fascinated by psychology and human behavior. I’ve spent years immersing myself in the research on things like happiness, confidence and relationships – mostly to overcome my own struggles. I’ve also read hundreds of self-help books, many of which explain what to do but not how to do it. Love myself? Ok. How? Practice mindfulness? Sure. But, how? Be a non-judgmental observer of self? That sounds awesome. How the fuck do I do that? Writing helps me sort a lot of this stuff out. And, with any luck, I’ll help some others along the way.
Why did you decide to get certified as a life coach?
Truth be told, I used to think that life coaching was complete nonsense. (I still hate the term life coach.) But, ONE phone call with a no-bullshit, massively inspiring life coach changed my perspective.
I mercilessly battled depression and anxiety for many years. I lacked purpose and passion. I saw several doctors and therapists, tried a variety of medications, even experimented with hypnosis. Nothing seemed to work for me. I genuinely thought I was a lost cause. A life coach helped me change my thinking, set goals, stop making excuses, grow some balls, and take control of my future. After working with a coach, I knew I wanted to become one.
Do you still do stand-up comedy?
No. But, I think about it A LOT.
You say you’re an author. Have you had any books published?
To date, I’ve had two books published. One is a collection of personal essays called I Hope There’s Pie. I wrote much of it when I was 22 years old, and I don’t suggest adding it to your collection. The writing is sloppy and many of the stories are disjointed. Whenever I go back and skim through it, I cringe a little. Quite frankly, I’m surprised it ever saw the light of day. However, if you’re interested in reading about my childhood cat or my experience at a Jewish summer camp, you might be able to purchase the book here. Shit, maybe it’ll become a cult classic or something.
I also have a humor book called Randy Penny: Cordially F*^#ing With People. I generally don’t laugh at my own material, but this book is pretty goddamn funny. I highly recommend keeping a copy on your coffee table or in that wicker basket next to your toilet. Here’s what my friend and one of my favorite comedians, Nick Griffin, said about it:
In the grand tradition of the Lazlo Letters and Letters from a Nut comes the next generation of mess-with-their-heads correspondence, Randy Penny. This stuff is Laugh Out Loud Funny from beginning to end. No cursing, no yelling – all of it hilarious. If you don’t think this book is funny – kill yourself.
I recently released the ‘Super Neat 10th Anniversary Edition’ of Randy Penny: Cordially F*^#ing With People, with never-before-seen content. Buy it here.
Are you writing another book?
Yes! Believe it or not, I have THREE books in the works. And they are all related to psychology and self-development.
Why did you move to New Orleans?
New Orleans is the most bizarre, beautiful, interesting, exciting, fun, frustrating, and culturally rich place I’ve ever experienced. There’s really nowhere like it. If you live in New Orleans and you’d like to work with me, or just get together for a glass of whiskey, shoot me an email at tonyendelman@gmail.com.
