WHAT?!
do YOU WANT
Crises are blessings in disguise. They are the necessary trials for the evolution of our life toward improving connection with ourselves, others and the greater.
The Three Mountains Method helps understand the internal dynamics and the Great Opportunity in what you now experience as a challenge—to Move.
People get what they Ask for. If you are not satisfied your life it is your Wanting & Habits & Associations you have to clarify and change.
THE MAP
UNDERSTAND your situation to solve it — you can not move without the learnings!
The NEXT LEVEL OF YOU awaits & IS Worth the Fight!
THE MOUNTAINS
MOUNTAIN #1
SUCCESS
The person who wants success does not yet reflect on themselves, therefore they are un-conscious (lacking self-awareness). Their name: TITAN.
Men and women in the Titan state (and organizations led by such people) are defined by The Goal. What they WANT to achieve. And for this, they will do Anything and Everything. The Titan operates according to their patterns – using a mythological image: they are like an Icarus who flies toward the Sun, inevitably going to extremes.
… the Titan is motivated but arrogant; their power is immense, but they also destroy with it. They do have a Goal, but it is THEIR OWN, and they are blind to everything (and everyone) else.
MOUNTAIN #2
HAPPiNESS
The name of the person who sets happiness as their goal: CONSCIOUS.
Conscious people are defined by their endeavor to be a good person… father, mother, leader.
The Conscious woman is strong, decisive, even masculine in her toughness, an outstanding leader, for whom this very same trait poses a serious challenge in her private life—while in contrast, Conscious men thrive to be Good but lack Power, because they do not yet have a Direction/Faith, needs to first find the Right Goal .
… the Conscious person is individualistic, free, independent, and has difficulty subordinating themselves. Their human quality is outstanding, but they do not yet have their Fight-Calling-Mission.
MOUNTAIN #3
MEANING
Name of the person who found his/her mission: HERO.
The third mountain is purpose-driven, defined by a Cause / Mission, which, however, is no longer programmed by our patterns and childhood, but found through genuine Calling.
The Hero serves a cause that (however big or small) he/she Knows to be IMPORTANT for the world, and which is their job to accomplish. The Goal is no longer material; rather, they want to utilize their life—themselves, man&women, together—in the best possible way by contributing to the Creation according to their talents, from which approach a greater material success than ever before does often also arise as an unexpected outcome…
The Purpose-driven person Knows and Does their Job. They feel a Mission, which is defined by a „Sacred” Goal, and they Ally with others for achieving it, finally occupying „Their Place”.
THE METHOD
FIRST – YOU UNDERSTAND
THE MAP
First step is for you to understand the map.
A strong general understanding is critical to navigate your path going forward, but more importantly: it allows you to understand and accept what has already happened in your life. The current state you are in has a background. Your current challenges have reasons. The map will reveal them to you.
2 – WE LOCATE
YOU ON THE MAP
To navigate effectively, you must first know exactly where you stand.
Together, we define the mountain you are climbing and pinpoint the exact ridge you are currently on. This immediate clarity dissolves the confusion and misconceptions surrounding your career, your relationships, and your internal crises.
3 – WE DEFINE
THE NEXT MILESTONE
Three Mountains Method is the art of traversing The Human Journey.
„Ego mastery” requires (1) understanding where you are, (2) accepting the necessary struggle required to move forward, (3) involving relevant help, to successfully advance.
The Three Mountains Map is not a theory; it is an observation. Over twenty years of guiding people through crisis, I have observed that human evolution follows a precise path: 3 Epochs, divided into 6 Stages, which contain 12 absolute Milestones.
To navigate, you must understand the terrain & logic of the Three Mountains:
I. – The Titan becomes Prisoner
We all start „in the Matrix”, driven by a Worldly Goal. This is where we build our ego, our identity, and our capacity to succeed in the material world. After the End of Childhood we step out of safety and build our own power. Eventually, however, sheer will is no longer enough, we Burn Out, our Marriages Become Dysfunctional, and/or our Health Crumbles — this is the Failure of Patterns.
II. – The Conscious Individual is Lonely
To start on the second mountain, we must surrender our arrogance — suffering helps us do this… Moving from ambition to awareness we first worship Individualism & Freedom, that eventually leads to Loneliness, which in turn culminates in the Death of Reason. This is the Turning Point where we experience the limitations of the rational human mind to find a better solution.
III – The Hero falls in Hubris
The final epoch is driven by Purpose & Meaning. We no longer serve our childhood patterns; we serve Other People, we serve a Cause. Stepping onto the third mountain requires a Leap of Faith — a commitment to a purpose greater than ourselves. Ultimately, we reach the Surrender of Will, yielding our personal agenda because we finally know exactly what our job is in the world.
You cannot skip a milestone. Once we know your exact ridge, the confusion stops. The pain transforms from random suffering into the necessary friction of your next evolutionary stage.
4 – AND THEN! ...
YOU MOVE
Then we climb.
You and I. Together. If you so choose.
There are goals to strive for — and more importantly: things, people and habits to leave behind.
I will help you see and recognize these.
I can help you change.
WHAT IS IT GOOD FOR
When life stops making sense, society tells you to try harder, think smarter, or fix what's broken. But what if you aren't broken? What if you have simply reached a transition point where your old tools no longer work?
The Three Mountains Method isn't about fixing you. It’s a map that shows you exactly where you are, why you feel stuck, and the specific transition you need to make to move forward.
Here are some examples how the map guides you through the terrain most people get lost in.
SUCCESFUL
BUT EMPTY
You did everything right. You built the career, the relationship, or the life you were told would make you happy. Yet, you wake up feeling unfulfilled, burned out, or restless. You try to logic your way out of it—reading productivity books, setting new goals, or optimizing your routine—but the emptiness won’t budge.
Where the Map says you are: You have hit the Failure of Patterns and are facing the Rise of The Self.
The Way Forward: The map validates that this isn’t a malfunction; it’s a necessary milestone. Your old coping mechanisms—achieving, overthinking, and relying on pure intellect—are expiring. We show you how to stop trying to „think” your way out of the bottleneck and guide you toward a deeper, more authentic exploration of what to actually do.
RELATIONSHIP
RUPTURE
Your marriage, partnership, or closest friendship has hit a wall. For years, you’ve been playing a role—hiding your insecurities and pretending to have it all together to keep the peace. Now, the exhaustion of hiding your human imperfection has caused a rupture. It feels like everything is falling apart.
Where the Map says you are: You are at the Failure of Patterns—where the Titan’s suffering is forcing change.
The Way Forward: Instead of viewing this rupture as the end, the map reframes it as the shedding of an obsolete self. We provide the structured path to your personal rebirth that can catalyze the resurrection of your relationship—dropping the mask, embracing honesty, and realizing that genuine connection begins when the illusion of perfection is abandoned.
BREAKDOWN
OF CONTROL
An unexpected shock hits—a business failure, a sudden divorce, or a major life disruption. Your immediate reaction is to grip the steering wheel tighter. You try to force a solution through sheer willpower, hustle, and determination. But the harder you push, the more stuck you become.
Where the Map says you are: you have reached one of the big turningpoints.
The Way Forward: Society teaches us to „never give up” and push harder. The Three Mountains map introduces the critical distinction between giving up and surrendering. By framing the Surrender as a profound step forward rather than a defeat, we guide you to stop fighting reality, and instead: Learn what you must. We help you release your rigid demand for control, allowing you to adapt and rebuild from a place of truth rather than sheer force of the ego.
THE SHERPA
ISTVAN
JOOS
Creator of the Three Mountains Method, founder of Humania — a leading voice in evolutionary personal development.
I am an author, entrepreneur, and the architect of this framework. With a library of over 1,000 educational videos, 50 comprehensive online courses, and two published books, I have dedicated my career to redefining personal development. As the founder of the Humania platform, my mission is simple: to guide you through the peaks and valleys of growth using radical honesty, brave transparency, and the profound power of embracing our shared human imperfection.
I sincerely hope I can help.
THE WORK
Stop Wandering. Start Climbing.
Knowing where you are on the map changes everything. It strips away the panic, the guilt, and the endless search for quick fixes. But seeing the path and walking it are two different things.
You don't have to navigate this terrain alone, and you don't have to pretend you have it all figured out. Real growth starts the moment you drop the mask and get to work. Choose how you want to travel!
There are three levels of Connection, Intimacy & Intensity to choose from:
Digital Sherpa
SELF-PACED WORK & Q&A CALLS-
Members Only content & videos
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Monthly "Basecamp" Q&A Call
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3MM Knowledge Base
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3 Mountains AI assistant
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Community of like-minded People
Personal Sherpa
GROUP WORK WITH BI-WEEKLY GOALS-
all the benefits of Digital Sherpa
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Mastermind Group (max. 12 people)
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Bi-Weekly Tasks & Accountability
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Bi-Weekly "Campfire" Call (60 min)
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Monthly One-on-One Call (30 min)
Summit Mentorship
CONSTANT 1:1 PERSONAL CONNECTION-
Personal Application & Fit-Check Call
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Monthly Plan, Daily Tasks, Weekly Meeting
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Exact To-Dos, Proactive Support, Max Effort
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Direct On-Demand Access via Text/Voice
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Typical Timeframe needed: 1-2 Months
After you press the button:
1 — You register to Humania, that is our proprietary social platform built to help you climb all three mountains. You will find the 3MM Knowledge Base, other people and help there.
2 — You start the selected Membership Plan, and onboard to the Three Mountains Method with 6 introductory videos that are 60+ min long each, giving you explanations and tasks.
3 — Monthly Basecamp Q&A Calls open to everybody: MON, 17:00 CET, 08:00 PT / 11:00 ET – Bi-Weekly Campfire Calls of the first Personal group: MON, 17:00 CET, 08:00 PT / 11:00 ET.
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Disclaimer:
The Three Mountains require: Work.
The tools and support we offer can and will help you advance in your situation, but only if you put in the work.
Please do not join if you expect other people to solve your life for you!
STORIES FROM THE TRAIL
ABOUT THE MAP
IT IS BASED ON
EXPERIENCE
My „Map of Life for the Human Journey” is based on 20+ years of experience helping people cope with crisis – I just observed the same milestones in hundreds of human stories.
Life really is a game in my view… an infinite one in fact. Out of challenges come experiences, out of experiences learnings that we can capitalise on (and enjoy the benefits of), until the next challenge occurs. Suffering results from our desire for a safe harbour, to settle down, take control, reduce risks, stop changing – suffering results from the illusion (arrogance) that we could control life, that we could quit the game. Secret to happiness is to Play On to reach higher and higher evolution!
I have helped over a thousand people in crisis, and have yet to see an exemption from these milestones.
SIMPLIFIED
VERSION
First version of the map (see above) was published in 2015, but it was too much for most people. Thus in 2020 I came up with a more simplified version, that resembles „The Hero’s Journey” more.
This simplified version:
1. merges the 6 sections of the original map into 3 big stages,
2. shows the mid-life transformation as a great depth where one needs to integrate desires / face „The Shadow of the Soul”,
3. has separate versions for the Man’s Journey, the Woman’s Journey, as well as Worldview and Faith Evolution,
It has proven to be more accessible / inviting for people to embark on the inner Journey.
PRODIGAL
version
It is my experience (thus conviction) that in our individualistic age it is inevitable for most people to fall into the trap of self-centredness, that is self-love, that is the wrong kind of worship – before a person can find Meaning in the Right Worship.
It is my conviction that the prodigal story is not only true – it is the general story of the rational-individualistic modern person.
Mc conclusions from working with over 500 individuals: (1) people of our age can not be saved from their desires, but instead (2) one can help them embrace their personal Hell, in order to (3) faster reach the turning point of the Prodigal Son. Hence latest version of the map. [painting by Bosch, icon by Jonathan Pageau]
ABOUT ISTVAN
IMPERFECT
MAN
I wanted-tried-posed to be „Perfect” for 30 long years — it resulted in loneliness and pain.
Eventually I had to give up & thus I discovered that…
- BEING IMPERFECT IS IRRESISTIBLE – it moves other people and the world to fulfill my lacking & desires swiftly.
- SUFFERING IS GOOD – a grace of God in fact, as it always points to timely change I reject/resent/delay.
- ROOT CAUSE OF PAIN IS OBSOLETE WORLDVIEW – that is easy to fix by relying on others’ experiences.
Stop posing (and being sorry about yourself) – try being Imperfect instead: Accept & Show Your Self!
I am happy to help.
In the past 10 years I helped
people
in my native Hungarian language, before now opening to the English speaking world
MY
STORY
I. Life of Contradictions
I was born into the old elites of the dead world of feudalism – grew up in the worst possible neighborhood of socialist Budapest, with a family maid – have amazing talent to lead and for managing wealth in a time when we were stripped of all wealth to manage – studied history and went to law school, yet dropped out to build my .COM company at age 24 – lived and could have stayed in the US, but could not grow roots there – am from Hungary but resent the provincialism of the local environment – built a market leading eCMS software and later a favors marketplace that scaled to several countries, yet became an expert in helping people in crisis – developed a personal development method, that most people don’t understand – have a large following who think I am a guru, because they do not really see me – consider myself a social innovator, a term nobody uses – do see the future and was proven right several times, yet find it hard to convince my contemporaries – am now building a truly global platform for connecting people from the fringes of the fringes of the Western World Order, that is Hungary in relationship to the EU to the US.
II. Personal Mission
I want to help as many people as possible to (1) better understand the Human Journey, (2) cope with natural transformation that is happening to all of us mid-life: the Quest for Meaning, (3) empower people to show their real self honestly, and (4) be available for others with their experiences, so that (5) humanity can gradually reconnect, and be a Brotherhood eventually.
III. Message
Depression, burnout, anxiety, relationship crisis, loneliness, addiction, alcohol and porn – I did it all, and they all turned out to be symptoms of the ONE challenge I was not facing:
Who am I?
Who am I really?
A better life awaits.
If only we let go of the old.
Have courage – you CAN do this!
Istvan
BASED ON THIS, STEVE:
20 years
EXPERIENCE
After discovering his own imperfection Steve was moved to help others – he has been dealing with relationship and/or career crisis for 20 years, helped several hundred people, has intimate knowledge of over 1000 stories.
It is his belief, that
There is no such thing as a relationship or a career crisis – instead these are always just results of faulty expectations rooted in faulty (obsolete) beliefs about what Life is.
The root cause of our troubles is always our Relationship with the World, that is based on our view of the world. Our beliefs about what the world is define who we are, what we do with our life.
Solution is Worldview Evolution. Truer Beliefs result in Better Connections – lead to finding the Unique Way I can be useful.
People who do not feel useful can not have a happy relationship or a fulfilling career… does not matter how much money they make.
Crisis means that:
(1) I am clinging to beliefs that are obsolete,
(2) I have to move ON, and allow a New Me,
(3) I am ready and fully prepared to do so.
Crisis helps us change. Before each step: there must come imbalance first, to help us allow the change that is timely.
Crisisis not a bug but a feature of our life – a help from God in fact, that we should attend to and cherish.
CRISIS IS GOOD – a Grace of God in fact that is a Call of our future Best Self to: (1) start being honest about being imperfect, (2) confess our need for other people, (3) embark on a Journey to discover the right relation to other people, ourselves and the the Creator.
BASED ON THIS I
wrote
TWO BOOKS
On midlife crisis, burnout, breakdown, depression, marital calamities, addictions transformation (!), that in fact is A) natural occurrence, B) the greatest single opportunity in our life, for not less but MORE happiness, that happens C) as a result of us resisting changes that we should have allowed and embraced.
“In order to fly we first have to fall to pick up speed. A New You will rise from the abyss – with Power & Purpose… I promise.”
DEVELOPED
EGO MASTERY
The Human Journey model can and should be used for personal development. We put 9 years of development work into perfecting the Ego Mastery approach, that is “The Art of Traversing The Journey”. We identified 12 milestones, that divide the human life experience into a Journey of 12 stages within six sections within three big epochs. We developed online courses and started a Community to help practitioners better understand and faster reach the common milestones to obtain & ensure happiness amid constantly changing circumstances.
Founded
Academy
Our online courses consist of thorough explanations of the stages of the Journey (to better understand the challenge one is facing) and detailed instructions on specific actions (to effect change and thus reach resolution). The courses focus on career as well as relationship challenges, and hundreds of people prove them valuable. The online courses are complemented by IRL workshops to also provide peer support and experience based personal advice.
LAUNCHED
COMMUNITY
More experienced people helping the less experienced with their life experiences has served humanity well for millennia.
I strongly believe that a well functioning social fabric is prerequisite for the well functioning individual, thus lasting social balance and a healthy society in general.
We empower people to launch groups for helping others with their life experiences. Our community features a growing number of Woman’s Circles as well as a Club for Man.
Our ONE rule for all our groups is: „Say what you have experienced – otherwise shut up!”
MADE
1000+ videos
The Map was so new, and questions so many that instead of replying everybody one by one in writing it was easier for me to occasionally make 10-20 min. video responses. Facebook Live was new. The first video appeared on Nov 14, 2015 – and more than 1000 have followed since. Much experience has been shared.
started
STARTUP
Humania is The Social Network for Being Imperfect – we bring a paradigm shift in social networking toward honesty.
You can think of Humania as a massively multiplayer social game where we help people attract/find relevant strangers.
We incentivize people to share life experiences in order to connect Mentors, find Romantic Relations, new Friends and Community.
Loneliness is a great challenge of our age – we think that it is not the people who are the problem, but the rules (incentive structures) of the social games they play (see Facebook & Co.).
Humania is a better game, that is a New Life Incubator.
INITIATED A
MOVEMENT
Human isolation is one of the great challenges of our age. Be a part of the solution, help build a connected future – offer your attention to strangers, the world needs your experience!
We think that it is not the people, who are the problem, but the rules of the social games they play. People are lured into “free” games that rewards poses, one sidedness, dishonesty and lies about our life. While their attention is being manipulated and sold to advertisers.
Humania is a better game.
1. Be Accessible! – your experiences & knowledge have instant value to other people who now have similar challenges to what you have already solved, be there for them, it is gratifying to help
2. Empower Mentees! – mentor the mentors who can help many more people than you could on your own, our service is also well suited for individuals with large follwing and apprentices.
3. Make Money! – you can offer your experiences for free, or ask for money. Decide your preferred channel (Zoom or messaging or combined), make mentoring packages, set the price!
–
OUR MISSION IS TO CONNECT HUMANITY BY EMPOWERING PEOPLE TO OFFER THEIR ATTENTION TO STRANGERS EASILY & SAFELY.
Istvan’s
online courses
Istvan’s
MVP community
Istvan’s
team
News
occasional newsletter, whenever there is something to say
YOUTUBE
I have embarked on making English language content several times in the past decade – until I realized that AI will translate my 1000+ Hungarian videos into not just English within 1-2 years…
My Hungarian channel has over
views