Archives for August 2015

Man Of The Week – Anthony Demby

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Jimi Hendrix once said “Music doesn’t lie. If there is something to be changed in this world, then it can only happen through music.” This was the sentiment of Anthony Demby, our Man Of The Week, when he took the courageous decision to resign from his job and follow his passions full time by creating Humbleriot, an audible shop that utilizes music and culture to tell stories. A determined entrepreneur and a devoted partner, Anthony believes in pursuing your dreams regardless of what obstacles life throws at you. Today music is a guide that helps channel many aspects of Anthony’s life, where he had the opportunity to create a retreat for DJs and music professionals can further collaborate to inspire and educate the youth. Check out Anthony’s wise words of advise on how we can better take care of those around us and how music can transform a persons reality.
Age – 41
What you do you do? (Work)
I am the founder of Humbleriot, a New York based audible idea shop that utilizes Music & Culture to tell stories.
Why do you do it?
I feel that everything has a very unique sound and vibration and I built a business around the exploration of that for brands, for For-Purpose companies, and unique spaces and communities.
How do you make a difference in the world? (Work, business, life, family, self)
I make a difference in the world by being authentic in everything I do. Being in that space allows me to be my best self and accountable for all of my movements and ironically my most creative.
What are 3 defining moments in your life?
– Hiking the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu in Peru and involuntarily meditating for the first time.
– Losing two very good friends of mine that passed at a very early age and understanding that death doesn’t end a relationship, it just changes the communication.
– Resigning from my former job to launch my own company Humbleriot and pursue my passions full time.
What is your life purpose?  
My life’s purpose is to help people discover, harness, and express the light inside of themselves and communicate it to the world. I also feel my purpose aligns with the power of music and exploring how it can make the lives of people better.
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I had the opportunity to curate and program a retreat for DJs and Music Producers called the Playlist Retreat with DJ Jazzy Jeff and Serato. It was a transformative experience for everyone involved that focused on inspiration, education, and collaboration
How did you tap into it?
It’s an inner knowing and as my spiritual path evolved, I have been gifted opportunities to give in that way. As far as Music, it’s is my first language and soulmate and has lead me to experience some of my highest truths so I continue to follow that calling.
Who is your Role-Model or Mentor?
There are people that I have a great deal of admiration for but I don’t have a specific role model. My role models are people who pursue their dreams no matter what obstacles they face and don’t give up even when the world tells them to. My mentors are my experiences and learning from them.
Do you have any daily habits? If so, what are they? 
My daily habits include meditating twice a day, running, and honestly, just being present.
When do you know your work/life balance is off?
I am all about balance and I can tell when mine is off when I’m reactive and when I’m in a hurry. The moment I start doing things with urgency is where I make mistakes and I have to stop and re-center.
Vulnerability is a challenge for most men – share a vulnerable moment from your life with us.
There was a time earlier in my spiritual path where I went to see a very powerful healer. He opened me up so much that I wasn’t prepared for the rabbit hole that openness sent me down and quite honestly, I was terrified. I remember sharing my fear with my friend Gabrielle Bernstein and she guided me in embracing it and accepting of what I was now aware of and it changed my life. I am forever grateful that she was able to navigate me through that.
What did you learn from it?
I learned that sometimes when you confront and face your fears, there is an immense about of learning that commences and it isn’t always as daunting as it seems to be.
If you are or were going to be a mentor for another man, what is one piece of advice you would give him?
As men we are taught to be caretakers and with that we often don’t take care of ourselves. I would tell him to make sure his vessel is full before looking after his world. I would also tell him to follow his heart no matter what the rest of the world tells him…and do it with integrity.
How do you be the best partner (Boyfriend/Husband- past or present)
This is something that I have learned a great deal about in the last two years. My partner Kristen and I were friends for 8 years before we evolved to more and that foundation of friendship has been the cornerstone of our relationship. It has taught me a deeper level of respect and awareness that what we share isn’t about me, it’s about WE and that lesson is invaluable and I have been able to experience love in a deeper way.
Do you support any Charities or Not-for-profits? (Which one(s) and why?)
Extreme poverty is something I am very passionate about and I really believe in the work that The Robin Hood Foundation is doing. I really dig their intention and approach and they are truly invested in creating sustainable solutions to change people’s reality.
If your life had a theme song, what would it be?
Tom Misch – “You Got Me Flying”
The “she” he mentions in the song is in reference to my life.
Where do you see yourself in 3 years?
Not to be esoteric, but I believe in the power of the present moment so In three years I see myself being right where I am supposed to be and I’m excited for that.
What legacy do you want to leave for future generations?
That’s simple. The knowledge that anything is possible and only seemingly impossible because it hasn’t been done yet. Tremendous creativity has no predecessor.
What One book would you recommend for any Man?
Way Of a The Spiritual Man by David Deida
IMG_1037image1If you know a Man that is making a positive impact on the world, we would love to hear from you! Contact us at [email protected]

Man Of The Week – Jonni Pollard

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This week’s Man Of The Week is a Man who has spent years investing his time in really understanding his connection to himself, nature and the people around him. From a young age, Jonni Pollard learned that he had two options: to be bold and stay true to himself as a person or to conform to society’s mould so the people he liked would reciprocate the same feelings. The times he picked the latter, his plan backfired and he soon realized being somebody else served him in no way at all. Being a vulnerable young man, Jonni began to accept that he had no choice in society’s ostracizing of those who are different, and that it was a reality he had to accept. Refusing to conform, Jonni found meditation as a gateway to escape the common issues we see in society today (i.e. stress and lack of fulfilment) to connect directly with the self. He shortly found that a greater connection with the self led to a feeling of empowerment in overcoming challenges in life, and a sense of caring, openness and love regardless of the ridicule he may encounter. In this digital world, Jonni took all of these life learns and decided to present them to the world in a manner where every single person has the tools to enable a connection with the self, all that is required is to download a free app! Have a read to see how Jonni and his not-for-profit ‘1 Giant Mind’ are leaving the world in a better, more connected, place.

Age- 39

What you do you do?
I’m a Meditation teacher, life consultant and Co- Founder/ Executive Director of 1 Giant Mind, a not for profit that empowers people with free learn to meditate programs to reduce the negative impact of stress and to experience greater wellbeing.

Why do you do it?
It’s my perspective that the greatest challenges humanity faces right now, find their roots in our disconnection from ourselves and nature as a whole, experiencing high levels of stress and distress, feeling deeply unfulfilled, addicted to temporal pleasures in an attempt to satisfy an insatiable need.
Meditation is the gateway to the direct experience of the true self, uninhibited by fear, doubt and insecurity. Our experience of fulfillment derives from the intimate relationship with our very being. Regular practice of meditation awakens the minds potential to have a direct experience of our being and enables the body to recover from stress and fatigue. This gives rise to an energy and vitality. This vitality sufficiently empowers us to meet the challenges of life with bold creativity. Life ceases to be a series of inconvenient obstacles and difficult personalities to negotiate and becomes a playground to creatively express our dynamic nature and ride natures wave of progressive change. When we master this capability to live fully from our true self and flow with life, we experience fulfillment. This magnificent sequence is stimulated and reinforced by the regular practice of meditation.

How do you make a difference in the world?
First and foremost, I feel I make the biggest difference by dedicating myself to confronting and resolving the condition and habits that inhibit my awareness of my deepest nature and the flow of my highest state. Each day see’s an elevation in artfulness and sophistication in my capacity to do this. The result is ever increasing states of happiness and greater effectiveness in influencing others to have the same experience within them selves. Then taking it to scale to inspire millions to do the same.

What are 3 defining moments in your life?
My birth, meeting my teacher and realizing that fulfillment was not dependent on anything happening outside of me, that fulfillment is fundamentally an internally sourced phenomenon.

What is your life purpose?
To sense nature’s unrelenting force of evolution flowing through me as a continuum and completely surrender to it and then fearlessly move in the direction it moves me. When I do this I find myself in situations that provide me with the opportunity to express the very best of myself almost all the time. It doesn’t matter so much what I’m doing to be fulfilling my purpose but how I do it.

How did you tap into it?
It taps into me. When I accepted that everything in life is governed by an underlying intelligence that flows through me, I realized that resisting it was the root of my suffering and confusion. Whenever I try to force to make something happen, I immediately lose sense of the subtly of awareness and flow. So to answer the question, I tap it by simply surrendering to ‘what is’ in any moment with full acceptance and openness to change, without rigid attachment to outcomes. This is the formula for flow. At first it can be scary as shit and as you continue surrendering to the now with full acceptance of what is, you realize that there is an extraordinary order and intelligence governing all life and that it is conspiring to your greatest happiness.

Who is your Role-Model or Mentor?
My role models are all the great masters both ancient and modern, whom have embodied the fullness of life and dedicated their lives to teaching others how to experience this.

Do you have any daily habits? If so, what are they?

  • Remain with myself constantly
  • Orientate my self awareness and activity toward the greatest need
  • Meditate twice a day
  • Eat well
  • Laugh regularly
  • Don’t get too serious about anything
  • Fearlessly follow charm and inspiration
  • Confront the propaganda of fear and doubt with action and decisiveness
  • Prioritize finer feelings for rational thinking
  • Listen to and be concerned for others
  • Be generous with my time and insight
  • Remain open to change with no rigid attachment to outcomes

When do you know your work/life balance is off?
When I can’t string my sentences together well and find myself being a little short or less generous with my responses. It generally means I’m really fatigued and need some down time.

Vulnerability is a challenge for most men – share a vulnerable moment from your life with us.
Vulnerability is the noblest challenge for us men. I spent most of my early life being vulnerable. I am incredibly sensitive to others and I am choice less in my devotion to who I truly am. Being unapologetically myself while growing up wasn’t always an easy thing. However the alternative was to conform to the norm and the few unsuccessful experimental attempts to do this always backed fired. At times I found myself being fiercely judged for being me. I was resented and ostracized by people I liked and wanted to be liked by. Being choice less meant I had to just deal with it. Over time I realized that my vulnerability was only an under developed recognition and understanding of the beauty of myself. The more time I spent with myself with out trying to be anything but me the more I became assured that who I am is all I need to be.

What did you learn from it?
I have learnt that vulnerability, when completely surrendered to, evolves into power.
We can remain sensitive and be immensely powerful. We can live unguarded, free with an entirely open, caring and kind heart, susceptible to others judgments, ridicule, prejudice and remain entirely empowered with certainty of the self. This power must be cultivated by remaining open unconditionally regardless of what you are confronted with. This is conscious vulnerability. Over time this develops certainty of the true self. I have witnessed on countless occasion how the warmth of certainty with humility can melt the most fearfully defensive hearts.

If you are or were going to be a mentor for another man, what is one piece of advice you would give him?
I give him 3:

  • Meditate twice a day non negotiable,
  • Commit yourself in every moment to confronting and resolving the condition and habits that inhibit you from living the biggest version of yourself ie: fear, doubt, addiction etc
  • Get out of your head. Surrender to your feelings, seek options that scares you and challenges you to grow.

How do you be the best partner (Boyfriend/Husband- past or present)
Being the best partner for me is by seeking creative ways to sustain unity with her. Most of the time, this is likely to just naturally happen spontaneously and joyfully. However in any relationship, differences in opinions and perspectives emerge and it makes it invariably challenging to sustain the blissfulness of unity and agreement.
The key for me is to be willing to surrender preferences for her own. This demonstrates that our relationship means more to me than having my way. This causes her heart to open and for love to flow. Invariably she will want to reciprocate and the unity game is back on track.

Do you support any Charities or Not-for-profits? (Which one(s) and why?)
Yes! I run one. Its called ‘1 Giant Mind’. We deliver a free world class meditation program via a smartphone app. We recognize that the answer to all the world’s problems is humanity awakening to its potential and fulfilling it. Stress and fatigue inhibit our ability to access our highest state.  Meditation enables us to uncover solutions to problems that otherwise would remain shrouded by a chronically stressed state.
Mental health world wide is rapidly on the decline, depression anxiety and stress related physical illness an disease is rampant. In fact world health authorities are now saying that 90-95% of disease, illness and chronic conditions are either directly caused by stress or severely aggravated by it.  Our organizations mission is to inspire millions around the world to learn to meditate and make it a daily habit. If this happens stress drops, creativity rises and shit gets sorted!
If you are interested in learning to meditate download our free app here

Jonni Pollard - 1 Giant Mind
Jonni Pollard speaking at 1 Giant Mind

If your life had a theme song, what would it be?
The hills are alive with the sound of music by MC Mary Poppins

Where do you see yourself in 3 years?
here and now

What legacy do you want to leave for future generations?
A culture that embraces it’s responsibility to live fully now.

What One book would you recommend for any Man?
‘The Art of Living the Science of Being’ by Maharishi Mahaesh Yogi (Pre 1969)

If you know a Man that is making a positive impact on the world, we would love to hear from you! Contact us at [email protected]

The One Key To Having It All Now

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When I was young, “having it all” meant three things:
– a million dollars
– a beautiful wife
– a big house and a fancy car
Today those things sound silly, not because they are not important, but because they’re not in any way all there is to the life I choose to live; a life in which I’m having it all!
 
The Spark:
It all started when I met with Joel Mark Harris, a writer, and an award-winning novelist. We had a spontaneous idea to write a book not from experience but as an experience. To walk the path ourselves and document every step of our work till completion.
The book is about everything anyone would need to write a book and have it all as a result. In this project, we explore the why what and how to write a book and make it a huge success, “having it all.”
 
The First Step:
We agreed that before we start walking the path we need to know where we want that path to lead, to explore what is it like to “have it all.”
So I went through my list of goals that I’ve edited and refined over the past few months:

  • Brilliant Family: My family is happy, healthy, loving, caring, whole, complete, and joyous.
  • Financial Freedom: I have $30K of passive income coming into my bank account every month.
  • Ultimate Body Health: I’m healthy, fit, and my body is in ultimate condition.
  • Thi Chi Master: I am a Thi Chi Master, and I practice it every day.
  • Top 10 Blogs: My blog is one of the Top 10 blogs in the world.
  • #1 LinkedIn Profile: My linkedIn profile is the #1 LinkedIn profile in the world.
  • 30 Best Selling Book: My 30 books are all best-selling books that are enabling 1bn people to achieve the remarkable.
  • 1000 Books: I’ve read 1000 of the best selling books in the world.
  • Top 10 TED Talks: My TED talk is one of Top 10 TED Talks of all times
  • West Van Home: I fully own and enjoy my gorgeous home in West Vancouver.
  • $100,000,000: I have $100 million of tax-free disposable income that I’m free to do with it whatever I like.

 
The Question:
I’m very proud of my list of wonderful and grand goals that keep me focused and on point. And my first thought was; “having it all” meant achieving all my goals. Then I did something that changed everything! The key that shaped what it means to “have it all.”
I asked myself this question:

what is the one thing that if lost nothing else matters?

We go through life thinking everything would fall perfectly into place “if only I had” a better job, higher salary, more luck, loving wife, richer parents, successful business, influential friends… etc.
These thoughts cloud our thinking and divert our focus from the one thing that matters, the one that makes a difference, the one thing that if lost nothing else matters.
 
1. The Most Important Thing Is ONE
Once I asked myself that question, the answer came thundering back “a brilliant family”: a family that is happy, healthy, loving, caring, whole, complete, and joyous.
Of course, I want and desire all my goals, and some of them I badly need, like financial freedom. But asking that question threw all of my wants, desires and needs out of the window. This one key question brought my focus to the most important thing.
What was surprising is, it was only one thing! I tried asking myself, what else, and nothing was as loud or as clear.
If the question were what do you want, need or desire? I would start saying, this, this and that. But when answering the key question, there is only one answer.
 
2. The Future Is Now
My answer wasn’t “to have” a brilliant family in the future. It wasn’t a “someday” when the stars line up, and things work themselves out, great things will happen, and I will get my brilliant family.
I realized that a brilliant family is a way of being I’m committed to today; I work at it with every sunrise, and I’ve dedicated my life for it period. It was like I said the words and lived into them at the moment I said them.
With my answer to the question, what is the one thing that if lost nothing else matters? I got clarity that there is nothing more important than my brilliant family today, nothing that has more significance or even comes close.
My brilliant family is a now phenomenon. Unless I experience it at every living moment, life is not worth living, who I am, everything I have, and anything I do, all become irrelevant.
 
3. The One Thing Is Many Things
Can my family be happy, healthy, loving, caring, whole, complete, and joyous in a world that is not?!
That was my third and most powerful a-ha moment. My singular focus just gave my life purpose. A brilliant family is a never ending quest for every one of us to experience everyone else as part of their brilliant family.
My family is my wife and kids, sister, brother, mother, aunts, uncles, cousins, extended family, neighbours, colleagues, friends and friends of friends. My family is the world.
A brilliant family also includes me, so I must be happy, healthy, loving, caring, whole, complete, and joyous for my family to be that.
 
Start Your “Having It All” Journey Now
1. Write All Your Goals Down:
Goal setting and listing one’s desires, likes, wants and needs is a great exercise and a must for anyone who aspires to achieve anything worthwhile in life. But don’t stop there.
2. Engage In “Having It All” Conversations:
Explore what “having it all” means to you, engage in thoughtful, deep and more meaningful conversations around it.
3. Ask The Key Question:
What is the one thing that if lost nothing else matters?
 
Would love to hear from you, share your a-ha moments, what opened up for you as a result of reading this post and answering the key question? What did you discover? And what will you do now?
 

Hussein Hallak is a serial entrepreneur with 22+ years of startup experience in strategy, branding, marketing, and growth. Hussein started 6 successful companies, worked on projects for Fortune 500 companies and World’s Top 100 Brands, and was featured in Forbes, BBC, and Entrepreneur. 

Currently Hussein is the Director of Strategy and Marketing at 3 Tier Logic, a shopper marketing and engagement software startup out of Vancouver, BC. Hussein is also the Director of Marketing at TEDxStanleyPark, Advisor at Spirit Games Ltd, Head Instructor – Lean Entrepreneur Program at LaunchAcademy and Founder of InspirationInbox.com.

Hussein lives to inspire possibility, to enable people, to achieve the remarkable.

Connect with him through his website, Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram 

 

Man Of The Week – Michael Ventura

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Michael Ventura is a Man of many talents and gifts, from being an award-winning entrepreneur and creative director, to a healing practitioner forming strategies for Fortune 100 companies, and now currently serving as a Adjunct Professor teaching Empathic Design at Princeton University. In 2004, Michael founded Sub Rosa, a strategy and design studio that focuses on helping brands form creative and strategic practices with empathic design at its core. Bearing a strong connection to community and nature, Michael and his wife, Caroline, also run a shop and gallery in New York, which serves as a place for communal gatherings and human connection. If that wasn’t enough, his desire to leave the world in a better place than he found it has seen him serve on the boards of numerous organizations and non-profits: United Nations Department of Public Information’s Tribal Link, The Burning Man Organization and The Smithsonian Cooper Hewitt National Design Museum, to name just a few. It should come as no surprise that Michael is our Man Of The Week, read on to discover what an inspiring role-model Michael is for Men today.
Age: 35
What do you do? (Work)
The short answer is I help solve problems. A longer answer is that the way I do this varies considerably depending on what part of my work we’re talking about. For the past 13 years I’ve run Sub Rosa, a strategy and design studio that works with brands to help them explore, learn, and grow into better businesses. Additionally, my wife Caroline and I run a home interiors shop and gallery in the West Village. The shop is really a community gathering space where so many people we know and love find a way to spend time together and connect. Lastly, I have also spent over a decade studying and then practitioning a variety of alternative and indigenous medicine modalities. I treat about 15 people each week across a spectrum of physical, emotional, and spiritual challenges they are facing.
Why do you do it?
I think I’m genetically wired to do this. My whole life, I’ve always been a pretty empathic person. I feel a lot of stuff and I try my best to harness my own capacity for problem solving to fix the challenges that get presented to me.
How do you make a difference in the world? (Work, business, life, family, self)
Ooof. That’s a big question. I guess for me, making a difference isn’t always about the big, seismic moments. Sometimes it’s the little things. The small, 2 or 3 degree turns you make that end up changing things for the better somewhere down the line. I hope that being intentional, thoughtful, and considerate of those I interact with helps each of them to go through the daily round a little better than the day prior.
What are 3 defining moments in your life?
– Meeting my better-half back in 2005. Caroline is the perfect partner who truly understands all of my strange idiosyncratic ways and helps me to live the life I want to live. I try my best every day to reciprocate.
– Realizing in 2009 that I needed to learn alternative medicine from some of the amazing healers and shamans who were working on me. Their guidance, collaboration, and belief in my work is something I carry every day.
– Bouncing back from tough moments in my own life, my business, and my personal relationships. There isn’t a date for this. These are defining moments that occur all the time. Life is unexpected. It’s challenging. But it’s also amazing and lessons await us around every turn.
What is your life purpose?
To be open to possibilities, work diligently at improving myself and the lives of others, and to embrace and spread kindness.
How did you tap into it?
It wasn’t a thunderclap. It was (and is) a slow boil. Most of my twenties (like a lot of people) were about exploration, failure, and finding a way to chart the course of my life. Constant self-observation mixed with a healthy dose of humility and forgiveness were (and are) a big part of it.
Who is your Role-Model or Mentor?
I don’t really have a “mentor” per se. Lessons come from everywhere. Being involved in fairly diverse types of work and thought, I don’t think I would have been well served with a singular mentor guiding me. My family, my spiritual community, my dog, my plants, and my friends are all teachers – and I hope my lessons will continue to come from such a wide array of participants as my life goes on.
Do you have any daily habits? If so, what are they?
I do a variety of alternative medicine and wellness work every day. This includes meditation, qi gong, tai chi, and a host of other practices depending on what the day calls for. In addition, I try to spend at least a quarter of my day outside whenever I can and I walk as much as possible.
When do you know your work/life balance is off?
I feel it in my bones. My body gets sluggish and my mind moves slowly. It’s usually a sign I need to cut and run for a few days – getting myself to a quiet place in nature – be it the desert, the woods, or the ocean – typically resets my clock.
Vulnerability is a challenge for most men – share a vulnerable moment from your life with us.
My wife and I have been together for 10 years. We’ve been married for 7. We’ve seen great couples come and go through those years and we’ve had a few rough patches ourselves. We got married kinda young and we were still figuring ourselves out, nevermind figuring out each other. As a result, there came a point where we needed to get really raw and open with each other about the people we had become, what we were getting rid of, and what we wanted to grow toward. We both knew that in the discussing of this moment of transition, we might find we had grown apart. But to not discuss it would have been even tougher in the long run. Good news is, we worked through our own evolutions and got to understand each other even better in the process. Had we not been willing to be vulnerable to each other and to the potential outcomes that might result, we may not have made it.
What did you learn from it?
(see above)
If you are or were going to be a mentor for another man, what is one piece of advice you would give him?
If you don’t get into trouble you’ll never get out of it. Challenge yourself but don’t be too hard on yourself either. Take risks and learn from failures. Enjoy successes but only for a moment. No one likes an asshole.
How do you be the best partner (Boyfriend/Husband- past or present)?
Think before you act, listen before you speak, have sex after a fight, tell her you love her in imaginative ways every day.
Do you support any Charities or Not-for-profits? (Which one(s) and why?)
A big part of our work at Sub Rosa is focused on supporting charities and NGOs. I am a formal and informal advisor to a multitude of organizations that I know and love. They include The Smithsonian Cooper Hewitt National Design Museum, The United Nations Tribal Link Foundation, The Burning Man Organization, Esalen Institute, and a series of social initiatives being run out of the White House.
If your life had a theme song, what would it be?
“Long as I Can See The Light” by Creedence
Where do you see yourself in 3 years?
I’m not really a planner. I’ll be where I need to be.
What legacy do you want to leave for future generations?
I’m less concerned with my own legacy. What I’d like to ensure is that I’ve made a difference in the hearts and minds of those I’ve met, that I helped them to get through this life a little easier, and that maybe I’ve inspired them to do the same for someone else.
What One book would you recommend for any Man?
“Shadows on the Path” by Abdi Assadi

Man Of The Week – Mike Campbell

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Our newest Man Of The Week is somebody who has gone through a decade-long journey of evolution, realization and change. Starting off as a personal trainer over 11 years ago, Mike Campbell knew one of his strengths was in helping men. Being an astute observer, Mike noticed an opportunity to help beyond just the physical aspect as many of his clients shared their personal struggles in life. Mike saw a trend where men often pose as the biggest obstacle to their own success by accepting mediocrity as the hand dealt to them. A born problem solver, rather than stand idly by, Mike decided he was going to “be the difference [he] wanted to see in the world.” From being a bestselling author, to coaching and hosting workshops for men around the world, Mike makes a conscious decision to encourage men globally to become the best versions of themselves by showing men their true potential.
 
Age – 33
What do you do? (Work)
I’m a Man Coach. I help men get off the ‘Mediocre-Man Treadmill’ and become their own perfect mix of James Bond, Nelson Mandela and Batman. Well, that’s the snappy pitch that does the trick of creating the kind of questions that lead to meaningful conversations and work.
I do this via coaching and workshops based around what I call ‘Masculine Attraction’, essentially doing the work to uncover who you really are as a man, what drives your behaviours and what it is you really want your life to be.
Why do you do it?
I started as a personal trainer about 11 years ago, and being naturally curious, observant and quite practical, I soon figured out that not only was there more to helping people than just the physical, but the issues that were coming up were the same. It was also in men, who I largely worked with. So I dug deeper and uncovered an overwhelming conclusion; we’ve forgotten how to be men – and a strong fire in me; to help men realize their potential and actually love their life.
I couldn’t understand how so many men just accepted mediocrity as if it were “their lot”, so the natural evolution of myself as a man as well as a coach just led me to solving these problems for men.
How do you make a difference in the world? (Work, business, life, family, self)
As stated above, I am passionate about helping men become their best. To gain clarity and direction in their life so they can actually work out what is important to them and then go about making that part of their everyday life. So every part of my business is geared towards this. Now I know that I can bring every guy into my workshops or coaching, which is why my book: “Unleash Your Alpha – eat like a man, train like a beast, operate like a gentleman and become a legend” is such an important part of what I do, because it can reach anyone.
Outside of that, I truly believe that we are all a constant evolution, and I work to continually be a better man in every area of life; as a partner, a son, brother, mate, uncle. A big aspect of this for me is to practise what I preach and lead by example. I want to ‘be the difference I want to see in the world’.
What are 3 defining moments in your life?
Because I reflect and assess myself and my life a bit, I would say that I have moments that were defining in at the time, and then those that were defining upon reflection with more awareness. Having said that, a combo probably does the trick.
– The first isn’t a moment but a big selection of them. Undoubtedly my upbringing has been hugely influential in how I have turned out. My parents, sisters and the situations that became my earlier years provided the clay that eventually molded me into who I am today.
– A second more specific one would be my previous relationship and engagement ending about 5 years ago. I think I was improving as a man then, which opened me up to really take a look at myself when this happened. It wasn’t bitter or anything, it just made me really look hard at who I was and what I needed to work on.
– Three would be losing my mother to lung cancer (as a non smoker), which was around this time too. Always having had a high importance on health, watching her live with more balls for four years after being diagnosed than most do their entire life, really rammed home to me the importance of health, knowing what you want out fo life and doing your best to live it.
What is your life purpose?
I consider my purpose to be two fold; both holding up a mirror to the men of today that forces them to assess themselves and their lives, and then helping them to realize their potential.
How did you tap into it?
It was a process, a long one! One that involved my own work, allowing clarity in my head around what was important to me. From here I looked at who I was and what I am skilled at, best suited to do and what really lights me up.
I can now say wholeheartedly that I believe every man was born with the potential to be a real masculine leader in our society, and it is my mission to help them realize that potential. It took time though, I had to keep working on it, digging, uncovering, refining. Trial and error. But the work is worth it, this gives my life purpose.
Who is your Role-Model or Mentor?
I have had a few of both. My father was very present as I grew up, in fact he coached my rugby teams until the age of 17, so this was very influential as both a role model and mentor of sorts. At the same time my mother helped mold the feminine aspect of me. However, as an adult and entrepreneur I’ve had a few mentors, one that stands out to mention would be Daniel Priestley (author of Entrepreneur Revolution)
Do you have any daily habits? If so, what are they?
My days can be quite different, but on the whole, yes. I try to meditate in the morning for 20 minutes first thing. Phone hasn’t been turned on. I then make breakfast, sit down to it and read a few pieces from a (big) book called ‘1001 ideas that changed the way we think’.
I try to move every day, be it training or just playing around on the ground with some bodyweight work or walking.
I love to cook, so usually make dinner and listen to music. And always aim to have some quality time with my partner.
When do you know your work/life balance is off?
When my partner and I are only talking about work/business (we both work from home a lot), when I haven’t seen my sister and my nieces much, or seen my mates.
Vulnerability is a challenge for most men – share a vulnerable moment from your life with us
Yes, this is one of my biggest messages to my clients/readers; vulnerability is courage – so happy to share. Long story shortened; I was at home in NZ with Nardia (my partner) at her brother’s place with all her family. Sitting round her father asked “So Mike, what are you intentions with our Nardia?” Everyone turned to stare at me expectantly. I put my hand on her leg next to mine, looked him in the eye and said “I’ll continue to love Nardia with all my heart and do whatever I can to make our lives together as good as they can be.”
What did you learn from it?
This was another thing to reinforce saying what feels naturally right, listening to my gut. But also to be vulnerable and show my strength.
If you are or were going to be a mentor for another man, what is one piece of advice you would give him?
I am and I have many pieces of advice… ha. But one of my main would be to “Drop the ego and get out of your own way, so that you can break out of what’s comfortable in order to grow and become your best”
How do you be the best partner (Boyfriend/Husband- past or present)
I do this by trying to truly understand her; what love language she speaks, when she needs attention/love and when she needs space. I do this by allowing her to be herself and do what makes her happy. I do this by being the best man I can be and creating a life that is meaningful for us.
Do you support any Charities or Not-for-profits? (Which one(s) and why?)
Yes I’m involved with ‘Project Futures’ whose mission is to end human trafficking. I see modern slavery and in particular the sex trade as something that starts and stops with men. I want to have more men having conversations about this issue, not just ignoring it. I’m passionate about men being their best/sorting their shit out, so this hits home with me. This year I’ll be participating in a cycle tour through Cambodia for this, visiting rehabilitation centres and raising funds/awareness.
If your life had a theme song, what would it be?
Shine on you crazy diamond. Not much because of some of the darker lyrics, but the concept of knowing your ‘crazy diamond’/weird and shining on as yourself.
Where do you see yourself in 3 years?
Married, one kid and thriving in this small family unit, supporting all of us, including Nardia to be living her passion as well. I see myself having authored one more bestselling book, delivered my 2 day workshop to 1000 men globally and started a movement for a new manhood, inspiring men every day to get off the mediocre-man treadmill and realize their potential.
What legacy do you want to leave for future generations?
I talk about legacy a lot in my workshops as I believe it’s important for every man to think about this for himself. For me I want my legacy to be around continually becoming your best, in all areas of life. Don’t accept the status quo, but search out what is right for you and make it happen.
What One book would you recommend for any Man?
Why my own of course! I say that part in jest, part not. I wrote this book to simplify the information around health, fitness and manhood in order to help men get in great shape, not just physically, but in all areas of their life. I sincerely believe there are messages in there for a large proportion of men who are looking to get more out of life.
That said, I’d also recommend ‘The New Manhood’ by Steve Biddulph. A great look at masculinity and manhood for the 21st century.
If you know a Man that is making a positive impact on the world, we would love to hear from you! Contact us at [email protected]

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