For midlife men who want to thrive, not just survive.
Helping you get 1% better at life each week – I’ve done the work, you get the benefits.
If you are a midlife man in a leadership role, I’ve created The Prime Movement for you. As a coach and former global C-suite executive, I understand the unique challenges you face. In a world where your struggles can feel unnoticed, I see you.
The Prime Movement is a community for those of us who aren’t ready to ‘quiet quit’ life. This is for those of us who believe in the power of progress – mentally, physically and spiritually.
It’s for those who not only dare to know, it’s for those who dare to grow.
READ TIME: 6 MINUTES
What’s coming up:
Midlife Musings
Personal Reflections on Leadership and Growth
Stop taking pride in getting punched in the head AKA why you may have the wrong idea about resilience
Mike Tyson famously said “everyone has a plan until they get punched in the face” and while that quote hits hard when it comes to highlighting that brutal intersection where best laid plans can sometimes get KO’ed by reality, there’s also another actuality that often gets overlooked.
Yep, what I’m talking about here about are false notions of resilience. In a world where going harder, faster and longer are worn like badges of honour, there are far too many of you just shipping damage as if that’s a good thing.
I know because I was that guy – 8am calls with Singapore? Bring it on. 10pm calls with Los Angeles? I’ve got you. You want me to jump on a plane to Indonesia? I’m there. The lie I told myself was that this was me at my best – that guy who will always do whatever it takes to go the proverbial extra mile. I was wrong…
Imagine you in role are a boxer. Which one do you want to be? The slick technician who is bobbing and weaving, while scoring points with precise punching, or the one pinned on the ropes taking shots and soaking up punishment?
Here’s the reality check – we’ve all been on those ropes at some point there’s no shame in that. But some of you are doing what I did and trying to justify staying there, whether that’s to yourself or those around you. You need to understand one critical thing that took me a long time to grasp – resilience only counts when it is exists within the context of positive progress. A winning boxer still absorbs some punishment, that’s the reality of being in the ring, right? However, it’s a price worth paying for winning the fight, especially if you’re learning and growing from the experience.
By contrast there is no glory in being a punchbag. There is no win in staying on the ropes. Only damage. And at some point the simple fact is you won’t be able to take it any more.
In your career and life you are always going to face obstacles. Overcoming them is what matters. Your resilience can be a great power, but only if you use it wisely. The smarter fighter always wins. If you’re currently on the ropes, don’t stay there, telling yourself you can take the punishment, reframe things and devote that same energy to finding a way to get off them and turn the fight around. That’s the only thing that matters.
If you’re struggling to find a way off the ropes I’m here to help you. You don’t have to do this alone.
Lessons from a Prime Mover
Andrew Huberman
Learning from the midlife men who lead by example
Andrew D Huberman is a 48-year-old neuroscientist and podcaster who runs the Huberman Lab at Stanford University and is a strong advocate for health and wellbeing. He’s done a huge amount in taking complex neuroscience concepts and breaking them down into practical, actionable advice. As a midlife man at the forefront of physical and mental health advocacy, he’s someone we can all learn from.
It’s never too late – we need to keep on embracing new experiences
“The brain is incredibly plastic, meaning it can change and adapt at any age. Engaging in new learning experiences and challenging ourselves is essential for keeping our brains healthy.”
To learn more you can listen to the Huberman podcast on how to focus to change your brain here.
What we eat profoundly affects our brain health.
“Diets rich in omega-3 fatty acids, antioxidants, and essential vitamins are critical for maintaining optimal brain function.”
To learn more you can listen to the Huberman podcast on nutrients for brain health here.
Exercise is not just great for your physical health, it’s great for your mental health as well
“Regular physical exercise is one of the most powerful ways to enhance brain function, mood, and longevity. Exercise promotes the release of chemicals that improve brain health.”
To learn more you can listen to the Huberman podcast on maximizing productivity, physical and mental health with daily tools here.
Marginal Gains
Essential News, Views and Life Hacks
I know that as a leader you don’t have the time to stay on top of everything that’s happening out there, but don’t sweat it: I’ve done the hard 9 yards for you and sifted through the noise. Every week I’ll be curating and sharing the best news, views and life hacks with you.
Thinking differently about progress
Visuals can be so powerful in conveying meaning and I loved this image shared by Sahil Bloom in one of his recent posts, as it captures the reality of progress in a way that can help you reframe your thoughts around it. You’ll frequently think you are ‘stuck’ and just going in circles, but zoom out to where you were a year ago and focus on where you’ve made tangible progress. How do you feel now?
How to live longer – a new guide
Hands-up who doesn’t want to live longer? Yep, I thought so…! So, I’ll be covering this in more detail at a later date, but this week Peter Attia MD released ‘Longevity 101’, a foundational guide to his longevity frameworks that includes 5 key strategies aimed at helping you live a longer life. Essential viewing/listening so I’m sharing it here. You cannot afford not to take a look.
How to sleep like an Olympian
Confession – sleep quality is one of those areas where I’m definitely in ‘work in progress territory’ and I know I’m not alone in that. One of the most common traits of midlife leaders is that you’re not getting enough sleep and/or it’s of bad quality. As Olympic athletes know only too well, this can be really detrimental to both your performance and your health. This article from The Times in the UK covers everything from trackers to diet in the quest for helping you sleep better. Read it here.
Your Questions
The Paralysis of Big Decisions and the Power of Proximate Objectives
Ultimately I created The Prime Movement for you, so every week I’ll be answering a question relating to the challenges you’re facing in work and in life. Message me at jason@theprimemovement.com if you’ve got a challenge you want to share.
Question: I run my own successful business in the healthcare sector but I’m finding myself increasingly paralysed when it comes to making the big decisions – the pace of change, especially with AI, means that our long-term planning seems increasingly irrelevant. Add in challenges with recruitment, legislation etc. and I’m increasingly paranoid about making the wrong call, so I’m not making any. However, I know that’s not sustainable either, so how do I break the rut?
Answer: Over the past year, this question and iterations of it have been the most frequent I’m facing. There’s a strong sense of turbulence that triggers a very human response that is characterised by the desire to protect rather than progress – that you should seek to cling on in the face of such strong external forces, rather than risk facing them head on.
As a coach, I understand the immense pressure you face when making business decisions in this context. I’ve found one of the best tools to overcome this is to focus on what are known as ‘proximate objectives’. Let’s dive in:
-
These are clear, short-term, and feasible goals that break down complex decisions into manageable parts.
-
This approach not only reduces the overwhelming nature of big decisions but also provides immediate focus and direction.
-
By achieving these smaller goals, you’ll build confidence and create a sense of progress, making the larger decisions feel less daunting.
I’ll repeat one of my mantras here – progress not perfection. This is not about getting everything right, this is about making the best possible decision with the information and resources that are available to you.
NB. If anyone is interested in learning more about proximate objectives I’d urge you to read the superb ‘Good Strategy, Bad Strategy’ by Richard Rumelt.
Do Your Good Deed For The Day
Send this to a Friend
The Prime Movement has been created for midlife men like us. Those who are in the arena of life, fighting and struggling to do their best. So if you have a friend who you think will benefit from reading this and from becoming part of The Prime Movement community, please forward it on so they can sign up. We are stronger together.
You currently have 0 referrals.
Or copy & paste this link: https://news.theprimemovement.com/subscribe?ref=PLACEHOLDER
WHAT DO YOU WANT TO SEE?
I created The Prime Movement for you, so the more I can hear from you about what you want to see, hear and learn, the more I can shape this for you. Message me at jason@theprimemovement.com and I’ll promise to personally respond to every message. We’re in this together.
