<h1>Unless you live in a blanket box at the end of your parents bed, you’ll be feeling the impact of changes around you.&nbsp;</h1> Whether it’s climate shifts, finance model shifts, global sharemarket disruptions, global power imbalances, destabilised, populist politics, de-centralisation of workforces or just the cost of daily life… things are changing.&nbsp; I can’t explain why, I can’t predict where it’s heading or any timeframe for reestablished equilibrium… if ever. I’ll bet you can’t either. Even the worlds best economists can only reliably predict the past.&nbsp; Change can be scary, likely impacting most of us today with so many variables changing at once.&nbsp; Rather than distracting ourselves by doom scrolling on phones or binge-watching the box… it’s time to re-wire our minds and bodies for the task ahead.&nbsp; Rather than basking in luxury or seeking the easy, comfortable life, it's time to re-orient our mental models.&nbsp; <h2>It’s time to join the expedition.&nbsp;</h2> Think back upon early explorers across the world. Did they know what they were heading into? Do they know what to expect? No. Did they encounter hardships? Did they have no choice but to struggle through? Was it easy, smooth sailing?&nbsp; Were they tough, resilient, adaptable?&nbsp; Did they train and prepare for what they might encounter? You bet they did.&nbsp; What do the next 10 years look like for you? Will it be smooth sailing or is there a storm brewing? I hope for you there's one hell of an adventure ahead... a true expedition of the ages. Something that will ignite your senses and tap into 200,000 years of evolutionary biology, the same biology that links you with all those early explorers. Navigate the next 10 years in great mental and physical shape and you'll be a legend too. <h1>Here's how to prepare... come what may:&nbsp;</h1> <h2>Prepare your mind to accept, not resist change. </h2> When changes is coming, don't expend valuable energy, time and other resources defending your position. If change is coming and the outcome is inevitable, then yield quickly and re-establish a new position early. Resources spent defending the undependable are wasted. Look for signals early that change is coming and be adaptable.&nbsp; <h2>Live below your means. </h2> So many people today use borrowed money to live beyond their means. While this might give you access to more things than you can currently afford, it can place you in significantly increased financial stress when chaos reigns. Adjust early, adjust now, downscale your house, buy the cheapest car your ego can afford, go back to eating basic foods, not luxury items.&nbsp; <h2>Challenge your social needs versus your basic needs. </h2> Social needs are things that satisfy your status in your community. If you’re hanging out with the Mercedes Benz crowd you’ll be buying more expensive wine and eating more expensive cheese. Rebel against this social conformist behaviour and tread your own path or change the crowd you hang with. Transition from the Moet mob to the 5am run club… or Wellteam.&nbsp; <h2>Get uncomfortable to build resilience. </h2> You don’t build resilience by being comfortable. It’s like a muscle. You have to train it. Ironically, the more frequently you train for discomfort, the less discomfort you will experience and the more resilient you will become. Start with cold showers, intermittent fasting, push ups, sit ups, getting up first thing every morning, get outside and do 30 minutes of activity… especially when it’s cold and wet or hot and humid.&nbsp; <h2>Practice life outside your comfort zone. </h2> There’s a thing called Challenge Stress. It works like this: if you deliberately expose yourself to a stressful experience and know it won’t kill you and know you can stop… then it will build mental resilience if you do it. It works well because you can choose it and by choosing it you accept and embrace the discomfort. Enrol in an event or activity that pushes you mentally and physically. Sign on for an open mic night at a pub, an art competition, a 5km run like Park Run, a swim, a race, an event that you may fail at.&nbsp; <h2>Prepare your body to function more efficiently. </h2> Your body is amazing, truly amazing. Your ancestors survived through extreme heat, cold, injuries, famine, plagues and more. Today… we’re soft. We rarely feel hungry, rarely experience symptoms of anything without reaching for drugs. We rely on alcohol to make us happy or relaxed, drugs to calm us down or perk us up. Go natural. Get back to nature, try a 24-36hr water only fast, swim in the middle of winter, turn the air conditioner off in your house, your car, let your bodies natural thermostat work for you, drop caffeine for a week, alcohol, wheat, milk, processed foods. Re-engage with 200,000 years of evolutionary engineering. <h2>Learn and know your limits. </h2> As with all of the above. When we push ourselves we stretch our psychological limits so they closer match our physiological limits. When we do this we build self-confidence. We don’t worry if we miss lunch, if there’s no hot water, if we’re at the beach on a cold day, if we have to run to catch a train, if there’s no milk, bread, cake, coffee, we build mind and body strength.&nbsp; Start training now. Start building your mental and physical resilience.&nbsp; Today, we use a small portion of our available functions. We’ve grown soft, comfortable but your mind and body are incredibly capable. When you're fitter, calmer, have greater clarity over your needs and your purpose, feel stronger in body and mind and surround yourself with others on that quest… then, and only then… are you prepared for the expedition of the next 10 years.&nbsp; There’s a storm coming. You know it. You can feel it too, I know.&nbsp; It’s going to be amazing… because we’ll be prepared.&nbsp; Do the training now.&nbsp; Are you a true modern explorer? Embrace the chaos.&nbsp; NOTE:Wellteam is your perfect training partner and community. Explore over 80 biohacks that tap into your evolutionary biology, they will push you outside your comfort zone, get you back in touch with your capability, build your confidence, get you fitter, calmer, clearer and stronger. You'll be surrounded by others on a quest to thrive amidst the chaos. This is Wellteam. <h2>READY TO BEGIN? </h2> Get your baseline scores and report using the <a href="https://www.wellteam.me/survey" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Wellteam Scorecard Tool</a> then use our AI tool to build a <a href="https://www.wellteam.me/challenges/available" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Custom Challenge Program</a> of micro-challenges built based on your report. When you're ready, join the flagship <a href="https://www.wellteam.me/challenges/available" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Launch Challenge</a>, build camaraderie with others on weekly zooms. Don't just weather the storm... dance to it. ACTION BEATS INTENTION. &nbsp;

Mind

purpose

optimisation

attitude

mindset

strong

challenge

biohacking

Tough times breed tough people. Easy times breed soft people. With chaos looming, get training now. 

When the world is going to shit, what can you do to thrive amidst the chaos. 

CHAOS IS COMING. HERE'S HOW TO PREPARE.

The biohacking market globally is forecasting 19% - 23.5% CAGR (Compound Annual Growth Rate) over the next 5-10 years. That's huge. What's driving that growth? If you're not familiar with the term, biohacking is when individuals take a greater interest in their own biology and use targeted methods to improve their personal health and wellbeing. What's the difference to normal health and wellbeing you might ask? Personalisation and optimisation. The model of modern medicineTraditional medicine typically uses a very broad brush to help a very broad range of people target what is usually a very specific symptom...not cause. To enter the kingdom of modern medicine, one typically requires a diagnosis of a specific disease state or condition, ie you must be 'unwell' and proven to be so. Take type 2 diabetes as an example. The disease itself is generally diagnosed after ongoing and undetected issues with insulin resistance (the body's inability to lower blood sugar levels despite elevated insulin levels). When the body loses sensitivity to insulin, and sugars are consumed, blood sugars rise and stay high. Over time, symptoms develop and a blood test confirms it. At this point, modern medicine rides its white horse into the room. Treatment options are generally either artificially replace insulin, artificially increase insulin production (or secretion) or try to artificially reduce the body's resistance to insulin. Remember, the primary measure of type 2 diabetes is the symptom (elevated blood glucose), not the cause of the prolonged reduction is insulin sensitivity. Type 2 diabetes is however reversible and preventable... but not by using medication...but by lifestyle modification. You see, the cause of type-2 diabetes is a reduction in insulin sensitivity. What causes a body to be less sensitive to insulin? Prolonged lack of exercise, weight gain (particular around the belly) and generally poor diet choices. Interestingly, you don't need to be overweight to have insulin resistance. There's an increasing number of people with insulin resistance who are not overweight...not yet. So treatment for type 2 diabetes is focused on treating the primary symptom of type 2 diabetes...not the cause. Modern Medicine, has an "evidence-based treatments" fortress protecting it. Producing evidence to satisfy 'modern medicine' is expensive. The extensive research required typically targets interventions that help most people, with a specific measure/condition, most of the time. With 46% of the population likely to develop at least one chronic disease, it's also a very, very profitable model...with very high barriers to entry. Enter biohacking. Biohacking on the other hand assumes that as an individual, you can consciously take back control of the factors that might influence your health in the first place. Not only to prevent disease, but to take you close to optimal health. Biohacking typically targets the 'cause' of future disease, not the symptoms. It requires people to become more curious and invested in their own health. In short, you're working out how to optimise your biology to live better. While the medical model separates the human into separate body systems or organs, biohacking tends to focus on treatments that work across systems. That's because biohackers are not focused on individual diseases, or disease in individual organs, but how to get the greatest benefit across systems from specific activities/intervention. The healthy skeptic wonders why more money isn't invested in prevention strategies and optimisation strategies like biohacking? Well preventing disease has historically, not been lucrative. You do it once...that's all you can charge. Symptom treatment on the other hand is highly lucrative and has an ongoing revenue stream...which is a great strategy...if you're selling treatment for symptoms. The biohacking industry, while it's been around for a while now, is really ramping up. Why? Because many of us are now waking up and realising something we've always known... ...prevention is better than cure. More than that, prevention is so much better than symptom management. Just ask users taking the new 'wonder-weightloss' drugs at the moment. Wouldn't energy, vitality, ability to run and play with your kids be better than an injection of drugs, diarrhoea, vomiting, nausea, obesity, lethargy, low self-esteem, risk of heart attack and early death? While at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/wellteam-me/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: var(--accent-color);">Wellteam.me</a>, we don't use the term 'biohacking'...it's what we do. The Wellteam Global Challenge is in essence a global biohacking competition. Wellteam itself is a global community (club) that aims to support, educate, guide and give people a safe and effective way to explore biohacking. Soon we'll be introducing specific biological tests to help members determine and measure progress...using science, pathology and biology to validate that what you're doing is working. Of course, biohacking isn't for everyone...the choice is yours...swallow the pill made for the masses...or hack your way to a sharper, clearer, calmer, stronger, fitter mind and body. I chose biohacking years ago...I am now back in control of my mind and body.

Micro-habit Compounding

doctors

Why is the global biohacking market going 'gang-busters' at the moment?

The rise of personalised mind and body strategies for optimal wellbeing.

BIOHACKING VERSUS MODERN MEDICINE

When you think about later life, what images come to mind? Happy healthy people sailing, sipping a glass of champagne on a balcony or playing with grandkids on the beach with the sun setting in the background. Ahh. bliss. The truth for many men is a story of chronic disease management, loss of purpose, inactivity due to poor health, financial stress, boredom and inability to do what they wanted due to being in poor shape. The good news if you're 40 - 60 is that you can absolutely do something to change that trajectory, but you simply can't wait until you retire to take action. <h5>Something to ponder. </h5> In 1992 the Australia government introduced The Superannuation Guarantee. This compulsory superannuation scheme required employers to make payments of 3% or 4% of employee wages into a superannuation fund on behalf of that employee. This fund could not be accessed until the individual reached official retirement age. In 2021, the scheme now mandates a 10% contribution. Simple enough and a great way to improve access to money in retirement. With skyrocketing house prices (equity) and bulging superannuation funds, our future retirees will be financially, the wealthiest retirees in history. That should be something to celebrate... ...if it wasn't for the large number currently living with chronic disease, willing away their time binge-watching Netflix, guzzling down pills to stay alive. The reality for Australian men over 65 is that 76% (3 in every 4), will have at least one chronic disease. Common conditions include mental and behavioural, heart disease, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer, arthritis, back conditions and osteoporosis. Sounds like fun huh? <blockquote>We'll be our wealthiest ever, with untold access to riches and more years in retirement than ever in human history. However...</blockquote><blockquote>...we run a very real risk of being unhappy and unhealthy for much of that. </blockquote> <h5>The 2% rule for a better second half. </h5> Got your plan for retirement savings sorted? It's now time to start investing in your wellbeing on the same basis, a small amount now for a better retirement later. Start by putting 2% of your annual salary into a bank account for your wellbeing (and 2% for any partner too). Use 100% of that fund each year. What you don't use in the year, give to charity. Consider that the vast majority (71%) of men are either overweight or obese. You can reduce that figure by doing activities that are free. You don't need to spend money on exercise. Walking is free. <h5>10 free things you can start today to reduce your risk of chronic disease and boost wellbeing. </h5><ol><li>Walk more (whatever walking you do now, increase it)</li><li>Start intermittent fasting or reduce calorie intake</li><li>Get better quality sleep</li><li>Spend time in nature</li><li>Learn to meditate or at least spend 10 minutes per day focusing on being calm</li><li>Reduce your consumption of sugar and simple carbohydrates (white breads, most cereals, pasta, potatoes, juices, lollies, soft drinks)</li><li>Drink more water as a percentage of all you drink during a day</li><li>Prioritise your personal relationship with those you care about (work on them)</li><li>Decide that one of your roles in life is to be a healthy role model for kids (they need you right now - childhood obesity is out of control because they're looking at role models, 2/3 of which are overweight or obese). Don't expect your kids to be healthy if you're not.</li><li>Reduce your alcohol intake</li></ol>If you review that list you'll find that not only are these activities free but many will save you money and quite possibly your life. <h5>What to spend your minimum 2% per year on.</h5><ul><li>Annual doctor visits to review your health</li><li>Visits to specialists to fix bits that break (just like you do with your car, you don't stop driving it because it's old - you fix it)</li><li>A meditation app or classes if you need it</li><li>Strava membership (there is a free version though) to track your activity levels</li><li>Entry into activity based events (eg fun run/walk/swim/ride)</li><li>Wellteam membership of course! (you'll learn/experiment with over 70 different wellbeing-hacks and meet a great bunch of good men)</li><li>Membership to clubs that you enjoy being a part of, that make you happy.</li><li>Walking/running shoes</li></ul> Just like retirement savings, you can invest the minimum for a basic return or invest more for an even greater return. 2% is your minimum now. I get that this post might feel a bit 'preachy' but it's just reality. Us men suffer from an optimistic view of our own health and wellbeing. We seriously believe that this shit won't happen to us. We avoid facing the reality until a doctor stares at us across a table and says, 'mate, I'm sorry to tell you this, you have .....'. That's when shit gets real, that's the 'come to Jesus moment' that spurs many into action. Sadly...that's often too late. <h5>It's now all up to you....and me.</h5> This is my heart felt passionate cry out to men 40 - 60... ...please get your shit together now. Dying early, spending your retirement in poor health in front of a TV or a device screen is not living. That's not what you worked your arse off to achieve. That's not what your family or friends want for you. I doubt it's what you want for you. It is a very sad reality for many and it is statistically going to be your reality too, unless you take action now. Join a Wellteam challenge program or not... ...but please, please, take action today and focus on optimising your wellbeing....and your life. Small steps, small actions each day add up. There's always something you can do. You've got this. You're amazing. Go well. TroyWellteam Instigator.

mortality

goals

relationships

exercise

How to balance financial drive with a healthy mind and body. 

An early death of a wealthy man.

Waiting times for psychologists and counsellors are going through the roof. Pandemics, flu-vax hysteria, inflation, job insecurity, home schooling, isolation, floods, fires, pointless politics, fake news and the war in Ukraine are taking their toll. For men 40 - 60+ these issues are biting hard. When you're culturally positioned as the provider for your family, the weight of navigating safe passage through these turbulent, stormy waters in immense. Whether it's reality or perception, I feel like there's great pressure on me to make the right decisions for my family. We can talk all day about equality and how we're "all in this together" but for many men that's just not reality. Men 40+ are stuck in a time warp of cultural expectations that can't just shift with the tides. We're taught by our fathers (and mothers) to open the door for 'ladies', we're taught that our job 'as a man' is to look after our families, to be the 'breadwinner'. Thankfully, for our kids at least, some of that is changing, but it doesn't change for us practically just because it should. Evolutionary conditioning for masculinity doesn't have a simple toggle switch. Change requires a rework that takes time, new skills, thought patterns and mental and physical health functioning at different levels. Wellbeing will be a key enabler but... ...current wellbeing brochures, websites and programs feature dreamy images of women (predominantly) and trendy young men (occasionally) in contorted, pretzel poses praying to the gods of flexibility on a yoga mat on a beach. Who's buying that? You can dangle crystals, quote phrases from the latest guru book of enlightenment and chant 'Om' till the vegan cows come home. I'm not buying it. For many men, like me. it's a leap too far. <h5>Wellbeing has to be accessible by the people who need it most.</h5> Now I'm into wellbeing in a big way. I've been fit and healthy my whole life. I run, ride bikes, row, meditate, eat well, practice breathing, stretch, take cold showers, intermittent fast and more. I experiment with my physical and mental health every day and I'm turned off by a lot of wellbeing program content. Most wellbeing programs miss the male mark for one reason; they're not written for men. They are designed and promoted for a person that doesn't actually exist...the neutral man woman. We're so worried about equality and being gender neutral that we miss the male audience. Typically, corporate wellbeing programs attract women and younger men and typically both are already well. Company in-house yoga classes attract those already doing yoga, fruit bowls attract fruit eaters, corporate psychologists are useful...if you know you need help. Men across the globe struggle to admit weakness. In the workplace we don't typically show vulnerability and we worry it will impact future work opportunities. We're taught by our dads (and mums, and sisters and grandparents) to be strong, tough, resilient, bulletproof. That attitude is now regarded as outdated by "society", (whoever that is) and all of a sudden we're expected to get in touch with our inner feelings, quit booze, cry in groups and skip our way to a mindfulness class. This cultural hang-up is exactly why we need to focus on wellbeing. The tough exterior is hiding some pretty screwed up internal workings that are under stress right now. Women have a lot of the 'nurturing' stuff right, they're good at that, but we don't need to become women to improve our wellbeing. We also don't need to lose our sense of being a man either. What we need are some tips, tricks, strategies and healthier habits that can boost our wellbeing without compromising our masculinity. To enable that, we need to get among men who are doing this stuff, who are up for the challenge of personal change and improvement. Wellbeing must embrace masculinity. Recently we held our first Wellteam Roundtable event. Fifteen members from our Adelaide cohort joined me at The Kings Head Pub. They're a very smart, accomplished group of men (from 37 - 73 years old). We heard how many had joined Wellteam from a referral from a friend, were interested in improving their health, get out of a rut or expand their network. What came through strongly was how many didn't know what they needed until they joined, went through a program and came out the other side. We heard stories of life transformation, confidence boost and weight loss. Most importantly we heard of camaraderie, of mateship, stories of good men sharing healthy time together. These are stories of men exploring wellbeing topics and activities in a masculine way, having some healthy competition and some social pressure to boost their wellbeing. Consider that last line. "Social pressure to boost their wellbeing." That's what men respond to. Not a partner telling them to lose weight, not their boss telling them to 'take a chill pill', not their doctor pointing out their blood pressure is a bit high. We need to feel in charge, like it's our idea, like we're missing out by not doing it. Men respond when they are treated in line with their cultural conditioning, with authenticity and understanding, introducing them to a different way of being a man in a new manly way. This is what Wellteam is here for. It works, it produces results for men (and their families, workplaces, community). Our members told us we should be getting into organisations and running programs there. That's what we're branching into now, approaching organisations with a predominantly male audience or male teams. If you have a team in mind, send us an email at <a href="mailto:team@wellteam.me" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: var(--ricos-custom-link-color,var(--ricos-action-color,#0261ff));">team@wellteam.me</a> and we'll get in touch with our corporate programs brochure and/or schedule a time to discuss. A mental health tsunami is on the horizon. Our collective goal has to be to prepare men, as best we can, to thrive, not just survive, to become leaders in wellbeing and not be lost at sea. We're ready.

corporate wellbeing

program

How to truly drive wellbeing outcomes in a workplace.

Corporate wellbeing and men

Well, now I'm sure you don't think you're on a quest for the intolerable.......but maybe I can change your mind. Many of us, unwittingly seek to grow our list of things we can't tolerate. This week I caught up with cycling great <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patrick_Jonker" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: var(--ricos-custom-link-color,var(--ricos-action-color,#0261ff));">Patrick Jonker.</a> Pat's one impressive human. Not only is he a Wellteam member and dual Olympian but he raced the gruelling Tour de France cycling race five times. Yes, five times through hell on wheels in lycra. That's a whole world of pain! The race is one thing, the training required to get you to the start, that's something else. The thing I love about Pat is his ability to sit down over a cup of coffee and be a normal and very humble human being. Translating lessons from elite sport into everyday life has allowed Pat to coach elite business professionals too. Our discussion focused on resilience and its heightened importance for athletes in sport today. Things have shifted. Social media now magnifies the ways today's athletes face setbacks. When things go wrong today, a mobile phone amplifies them for the world to see, over and over and over again. The ability to deal with failure and rise again after every setback is critical for success in sport...and life. You simply can't afford to fear failure. <h3>So are you on a quest for intolerability?</h3> When you experience something unpleasant do you front up again and build tolerance, or do you move onto something more pleasurable? When the temperature heats up or cools down, do you charge outside or hunker down in comfort? When your legs start to burn on a walk, ride, run, swim or other exercise, do you push on? Do you endure? When you take your morning shower or bath, do you wait for the water to be just right, or do you embrace the discomfort of the cold? When you get a coffee from your barista that's a little cooler than you'd like, do you complain? If your steak's not cooked perfectly do you send it back to the kitchen or do you tough it out? What are you practicing? Are you embracing your ability to tolerate life's challenges or do you cave in to the intolerable nature of a non-climate controlled car/bus/train/office/home/cafe. My wife (Sonia) and I started a business a few years ago called Mash Army Rentals (we still have the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/MASH-Army-Rentals-499293070107662" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: var(--ricos-custom-link-color,var(--ricos-action-color,#0261ff));">Facebook page</a> up as we can't let the idea go). The concept started after we purchased an old ex-army Landrover Defender and drove it through the desert to Central Australia. Our route took us over 1300km (800 Miles) of dirt roads in temperatures that consistently topped 35 degrees celcius (95+ F). The "Mashie" (named after the MASH TV series) had no air conditioning or power steering, it had hand operated sliding windows, a canvas roof and rather sticky vinyl seats. To compensate it did have an axe, shovel and pick (mattock) on the bonnet and the original military lighting, gun clips and camouflage paint. What started as a bit of a novelty soon became uncomfortable. At some point though, around the remote town of Maree, our adaptive systems kicked in. We adjusted to the heat, we adjusted to the body roll, to the constant sound of the wind, the flapping canvas and almost to the sticky seats. We managed to cross back into life without modern day 'comforts'. When it was hot, we were hot, when it cooled down, we cooled down. When we stopped in the middle of the desert, we got out and went for a walk - we didn't spend 10 minutes adjusting to the heat and whining about how bloody hot it was. We didn't race back to the air-conditioned, dual climate controlled, pressurised capsule we were previously accustomed to. We endured, we adapted, we thrived in it. We learnt to tolerate the previously intolerable. It happened quickly. Strangely, the self-confidence that enduring discomfort brings felt like freedom again and it was powerful. Similarly, the confidence that sport builds, comes from the ability to survive the setbacks and tolerate discomfort, pain and suffering. That doesn't come by chance, it takes regular exposure. When Mash Army Rentals failed, I became focused more than ever on my next venture. Not because it's easy, but because it's hard. <h3>My question to you</h3> Are you practicing intolerability, or are you practicing resilience, durability and the confidence that comes with knowing you can endure? A critical exercise in the Wellteam program is choosing quarterly activity goals that you commit to. These are events or activities that require effort to achieve. These goals spur you on to train and provide a test for your personal growth. The more we expose ourselves deliberately to the opportunity to fail, the more we gain strength from it. Sometimes an event isn't just a physical challenge. The meditation experience I had years ago in Bali (which I wrote about in <a href="https://www.wellteam.me/post/my-formula-for-freedom" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: var(--ricos-custom-link-color,var(--ricos-action-color,#0261ff));">My Formula for Freedom</a>) required a level of mental endurance or resilience. Sitting down to practice meditation each day and failing to achieve a quiet mind is hard. No real pain there, apart from maybe a sore arse after an hour or so. It's the persistence following failure that breeds success. Focusing on optimisation is about building the confidence to endure when things are tough and maximising the moment when times are good. When it comes to resilience the Japanese culture offers a great example. They are masters of resilience, embodied in a simple quote that is worth etching in your brain:<blockquote>“Nana korobi, ya oki”.</blockquote>Powerful huh? OK, so maybe the English translation might be easier...<blockquote>...Fall seven times, stand up eight.</blockquote>Simple. Move forward, do something every day to improve your life, no matter how small. When things turn to shit, and they will, keep moving forward. Stand up again and re-focus on the little steps, just keep moving. The quote doesn't say "Don't fall, just keeping sitting on the couch". It implies a commitment to something that isn't easy. If your life has become a quest to compile a list of all that is intolerable to you... ...maybe it's time to get outside your comfort zone. We're with you. Fall down, get up, go well and repeat. TroyWellteam instigator and content curator. Keen to learn more from Wellteam member Patrick Jonker? Pat will join Wellteam members again for another informal chat over zoom soon, so stay posted. We'll post details up on Wellteam social channels. <a href="http://www.linkedin.com/company/wellteam-me" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: var(--ricos-custom-link-color,var(--ricos-action-color,#0261ff));">LinkedIn</a>, <a href="http://www.facebook.com/wellteam.me" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: var(--ricos-custom-link-color,var(--ricos-action-color,#0261ff));">Facebook</a>, <a href="http://www.instagram.com/wellteam.me" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: var(--ricos-custom-link-color,var(--ricos-action-color,#0261ff));">Insta</a>.

sports performance

Build resilience, not intolerability

Quest for the intolerable

At the start, Wellteam's aim was simple: Help one million men across the globe, live a more fulfilling, happier and healthier life. With experience in broad industries from pharmaceuticals, cancer research, prevention and support, banking &amp; finance, arts, tourism and most recently ageing (how to age better), I've seen a lot of do's and don't for a better life. In May 2020 we started assembling a range of practical activities that have been shown to help build a more positive life. It's been a wonderful challenge because life is complicated, so what works for some won't work for others, working one day and not the next. Unfortunately, the harder we strive, the more challenging life gets, often due to a time &amp; energy tradeoff. When we focus our time or energy in one area it is at the expense of another. Achieving perfect balance may well be impossible. So here's my problem... ...I started Wellteam to make people's lives better. In particular, those 40-60 who are often knee deep in life's crap. We're in the 'pressure trench', also referred to as the 'Shit Sandwich'. Our invincible parents are showing signs of vulnerability and decline, our kids lead us to question our ability to parent, and we feel like we're constantly letting down the partners we love. We're in survival mode... and then there's our job.... ...we're working our arses off to make the most of our 'prime earning years', keeping the money machine rolling to buy more expensive stuff we think we need. Meanwhile, we contemplate the fact that the future of the world apparently rests with our ungrateful children who think hard work is maintaining 'streaks' on snapchat. Happiness anyone? So there I was at Christmas after spending 8 months researching and pulling content together focused on better living. I'd just published the 12 days of optimisation blog. We had our first site members working their way through the activities. I was writing about making the most of life but... ...I was feeling like shit. I felt like a hypocrite, despite the fact that I'm doing all the right things. Here I was shining a guiding light for others, while my own light was dull. So herein lies the reality of the perfect life. There's no guru that can get you to the perfect life. I certainly don't have all the answers. I started Wellteam to create a place to share, have the conversation, build a community and curate activities that work for others, in the hope that they improve your life too. Like you, I'm not perfect, I'm not optimised. You see, optimisation is not a quest for perfection but a mindset to make the most of where you are, with what you've got. So over Christmas 2020, I spent time with wonderful family, I rode my mountain bike, I meditated (or tried), spent time in nature, swam in crystal clear streams and waterfalls in ancient alpine forests (that's my kids in the picture). No complaints there but despite ticking a lot of boxes for optimisation activities, I felt well short of perfect. This is the reality of life. We don't score a 10/10 no matter how good we are. No matter how focused. At Wellteam, our quest for optimisation is encapsulated in our motto: Do what you can, where you are, with what you've got. What's clear to us is if you're doing something everyday to improve your life, no matter how small then you are making progress. This is optimisation. It's the commitment to positive action that will help you make the most of life. If you're doing the work and not feeling amazing and awesome, then don't sweat it. Optimisation is not perfection, it's simply the pursuit of 'better' on that day where you are, with what you've got. Sometimes the random nature of life will conspire against you, despite your efforts. At other times it will feel easy, effortless and you'll be on top of the world. The more you practice the little things, the more resilience you'll build. You'll grow capacity to take on the challenges when life conspires against you. You'll gain more pleasure from the highs and lessen the impact of the lows. Be proud that you're making progress. Be happy that you're not perfect. Take care and go well. TroyWellteam Instigator and Content Curator.

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