According to some random Internet tough guy, the strength and fitness standard for being a real man is: Overhead press x2 your body weight. Bench press x4 smoking hot, Instagram influencers. Squat the weight of a hippo. Deadlift a lorry (for reps). Be able to do more pull-ups than a bearded capuchin monkey on heat. Run a 3 minute mile … Continue reading Strength Standards: How Strong Should I Be?
The Importance of Giving Without Expecting Anything in Return…
“A society grows great when old men plant trees in whose shade they know they shall never sit...” Recently, I’ve been thinking a lot about the definition of giving without expecting anything in return. Several years ago my life was not in a good place. My career was floundering, a relationship had fallen apart and … Continue reading The Importance of Giving Without Expecting Anything in Return…
A Zest for Life
It’s 6.30am. It’s Saturday. Never a good combination when your week has been made up of early starts and you just wanted one day to sleep in. I’m faced with a difficult decision, I desperately need to pee, but know this means as soon as I rouse from my slumber, that’s it, our dog Ollie … Continue reading A Zest for Life
The consequence of the misfortune: Alan Watts
The consequence of the misfortune: Alan Watts Today I want to share this informative parable I heard from Alan Watts about a Chinese farmer, as it offers a different perspective about the consequence of when good and bad things happen to us Once upon a time there was a Chinese farmer who lost a horse, … Continue reading The consequence of the misfortune: Alan Watts
On confidence
Over the last several years I have been on a mission to increase my confidence. I am better than I used to be but still have some bad habits. Until recently I was blissfully unaware until I got some feedback from my last job interview "you know your stuff but you need to show more … Continue reading On confidence
The Best Revenge
Writing this blog gives me a lot of opportunity to reflect on my life - I have referred to it many times as "free therapy" because just by writing through my problems, reflecting and explaining what I intended to do has helped me get through some tough times. I sometimes come across unwanted reflection as I start … Continue reading The Best Revenge
Managing someone with more experience: The Baby Manager
My mum always said you knew you were getting older when you started to see policemen that were younger than you; so I don't know what Tracey thought when I walked in and said: "Hi, I'm James, your new manager." Tracey must have been around 15 years older, at first this wasn't intimidating as I figured being … Continue reading Managing someone with more experience: The Baby Manager
Goals vs Actions
Is there any benefit to setting goals or should I just stop talking and do it? This is a question I have been pondering a lot recently. If you have read my blog for a while you will probably be aware that I use it as a format to log and keep track of my goals. … Continue reading Goals vs Actions
The Worst mistake you can make in life…
I was talking with my future wife about our wedding. “It will be here before we know it…” she said She was right, it was nearly the end of May. When we started making those plans it seemed like such a long wait. And that got me thinking – I am 33 years old, how quick … Continue reading The Worst mistake you can make in life…
I used to be angry
I used to be angry But then I thought "What do I have to be angry about?" I live in one of the most privileged countries in the world. My home is safe from natural disaster and hostile people. I have an education that was free till I was 18, then I had the choice to … Continue reading I used to be angry
The Priority Levels
As I get older I realise how much my priorities in life have been all out of whack. I have done a lot of reading about successful people and I notice a general trend of how they prioritise their own lives. Themselves Because if they are not fully functioning (health, work, sanity...) how can they begin … Continue reading The Priority Levels
All The Past Mistakes
Of all the past mistakes I have made in my life, I don't regret a single one because if I hadn't made them I wouldn't be who I am today. Don't live life with regrets, dwelling on mistakes or failures. The past is the past - so learn from mistakes and move on. The only … Continue reading All The Past Mistakes
Perfect Manifesto 