<h1>How to be a modern man</h1> We live in challenging times for gender identity. When I grew up there was a clear code for how men should behave. Separate social rules for men and women. There was a strong narrative around being a man. The term "Go on, be a man" didn't carry a question mark. Gender roles in life were clear. It was simple but not easy. It didn't cater for different interpretations of being a man, or for those who were questioning their identity as a man. It had no place for softness, weakness, vulnerability. Today, we live in times of greater choice, greater freedom, a definite relaxing on the virtues of manhood. Perhaps for many however a feeling of confusion, uncertainty, disbelief, disconnect and discontent. Change is hard and especially so when it challenges such ingrained, trained beliefs from our earliest years. Well, rather than dwell on it, as a 52 year old, white, middle class, male, I thought I'd put down my reflections on what I think it important in being a man in modern life. <h3>My top tips for being a modern man. </h3>(Please add your tips in the comments down the bottom). 1. Graciously accept changing social norms while remaining true to who you are, your values and standards, for you, not others. You can open the door for someone out of respect, it's their choice to appreciate it. 2. Train your mind. Flip the focus from physical strength to mental fitness. A modern man spends a lot of time working their brain, absorbing and interpreting information. Mental fitness is critical to thrive in modern life. 4. Honour your ancestors sacrifices by not being a slave to the system. Don't get sucked into marketing. Play your own game, not someone else's. Do your research, make choices for YOUR mind and body that are in your best interest. Make conscious choices for a healthier, happier life. 8. Lend a hand. Our male ancestors were providers and protectors of families, mates and communities. Give back to others, help, support, defend those in need. 6. Show kindness and compassion. In a selfish world, this is the only way to have peace in our lives. 2. Challenge yourself. You are worth far more than the easy path has to offer. You are capable of amazing things, push yourself, explore the limits of your capability. 3. Stop a while. Breathe. Look around. Smell. Taste. Feel. Hear. A rich life is one where your senses fully engage with your surroundings. Reconnect your senses, all of them. Experience life through all five senses and you'll have much greater richness in everything you do. 9. Connect with nature. For 300,000+ years your ancestors were born into nature, grew up in nature, matured in, studied, reproduced in, lived, thrived and died in nature. Get outdoors. Embrace the natural elements. Wind down your windows, breathe it in, smell it, feel it, taste it. Look after it. 11. Move more. A modern man recognises that his body works better when it moves, just as our ancestors did. Move in as many ways as you can. Free up your joints, your muscles, your limbs, your organs, move more. 21. Don't expect order. Life changes quickly, it doesn't care for your structured plan, your sequenced events, your perfect pattern of things. Embrace chaos, uncertainty, irregularity. Train your mind and body, it will cope with whatever life throws at it, just as your ancestors have done. 13. Embrace. Adapt. Let go. Move on. Don't dwell on the past for you can't change it anymore than your ancestors could. 14 Love someone or something. Don't hold back, don't be scared, don't push people away through fear of being hurt. Have courage. Throw yourself into love, boots and all. It doesn't need to be romantic love, it just needs to be that unconditional care and concern for someone else. Chose the right person and what you give, you will receive. You may get it wrong and be with the wrong person. If so, move on quickly. If not, dig in. Embrace it. Let go of fear. Cherish it, for it, like everything in life, will not last forever. Love for today. Be strong, be true to yourself, build confidence in self and others. Live with kindness and compassion for all living things. While the world may feel uncertain right now, the only thing we can do is be our best. Some days that's easy and some days that's hard. We will succeed and fail in equal measure and it's the contrast between the two that gives life meaning. We should strive for success but be mindful and deliberate about our understanding of what success is. For me success changed over the years. From an early quest for adventure when I was younger, to money and status, family, security in my 30's and 40's to more social change and meaning now. Who knows what the next decade will bring for me and for you. I wish you only the very best. Remember that whatever is behind you does not define who you are and who you will be. Aim to be the best version of yourself and life a meaningful life. Go well. TroyWellteam Founder.

challenge

goals

nature

strong

mindset

exercise

attitude

optimisation

purpose

Mind

Modern life is tough, confusing and ever-changing. Here's my tips to how to be a modern man. 

Embracing manhood in modern life

HOW TO BE A MAN

Sometimes you just have to let go. Insights by Troy Flower - Wellteam Founder and CEO. For most of my life I've been a highly driven person, but this year has been tough.&nbsp; I'd write goals every year on January 1st. I'd pursue them with full force and a belief that they must be achieved for me to be successful.&nbsp; House, promotion, money, car, business, kids, holidays, relationships, mountain bike championships, running times.&nbsp; Here's the thing though. Most of those things can be changed in a heartbeat. None of them are permanent and the only meaning and value they have is what I attach to them.&nbsp; They are adjustable, infinitely adjustable.&nbsp; This year's been tough. I got hit by a car in February while riding my bike. The accident left me with damaged knees, a broken wrist and far too much inactivity for my liking.&nbsp; I was lucky really. It could have been much worse.&nbsp; As for my trip back to Nepal, annual running and mountain bike racing objectives... they've had to drop away, perhaps permanently from a running perspective.&nbsp; While we can hold on tightly to these aspirations/goals/objectives we have to let them go when winds are not in our favour.&nbsp; I've taken to calling my goals "waypoints". I really like the analogy of a waypoint from a sailing perspective.&nbsp; A waypoint is something you sail past, it's not a permanent state or destination. It's just a guide as to where you're going.&nbsp; You can sail close to a waypoint, it could be a port, harbour or village and sometimes it's a lighthouse.&nbsp; Waypoints are guides that give you a sense of direction and purpose, but they are not the end-point. They are flexible.&nbsp; If the winds are not in your favour, you simply adjust your sails and move on to the next waypoint.&nbsp; If a waypoint is missed on the first pass, you can always loop back when the winds are more favourable.&nbsp; Nothing in life is permanent and we're in a constant state of change, adaptation and readjustment.&nbsp; My year so far has taught me to adjust my sails, read the winds and rather than expend my energy fighting into a headwind, beating myself up for lack of progress, I'm just taking the breeze over my shoulder.&nbsp; Life is amazing.&nbsp; It should always be a challenge, just not a fight.&nbsp; If the winds are not in your favour, adjust your course, hoist up the mainsail and move on to another waypoint. Use the prevailing conditions to your advantage.&nbsp; Nothing in life is permanent. The winds will change, conditions will change. There will be storms, calm seas and beautiful harbours to spend some time in.&nbsp; You have only one life. Life it fully.&nbsp;

How tightly should you hold onto your goals? Try a different approach. Go with waypoints instead. 

A pragmatic approach to achieving what you want in life.

DITCH YOUR GOALS. USE WAYPOINTS INSTEAD

Click. Another door closes. When we end a year something happens in our mind. We experience a type of closure. A belief that we can do no more.&nbsp;As a society we attach so much of our lives to a calendar system that tracks 365 sunrises and sunsets.&nbsp;&nbsp;What did you do this year?&nbsp;What will you do next year?&nbsp;Imagine life without a calendar. How would you measure your life? What would you be thinking right now about how long you have to live?&nbsp;My guess is that a huge amount of stress in our lives is based around our calendar.&nbsp;If you've passed or soon passing 50 calendar years of life what does that mean? What is the significance of 50 years since you were born?&nbsp;Go back to pre-calendar days and consider what that would have meant versus today?&nbsp;I certainly have in my head, a fixation on years like a performance scorecard. I should have achieved this or that.&nbsp;At 51 I can predict to have only another 20 "years" of illness free life ahead of me... I can access my superannuation at age 65 and then have 5 years with which to enjoy it before illness and age starts to rob me of my functions.&nbsp;A calendar causes us to look ahead or behind, to catalogue things in accordance with time... something that, in reality, is immaterial and meaningless.&nbsp;What other species in the world places any importance on calendars or clocks?&nbsp;What we should be doing is living life more for now, for a calendar doesn't record life, it doesn't predict life, it doesn't even track life. It's a catalogue system like the dewey decimal system in a library.&nbsp;Think about how much of your life is constructed around a calendar.&nbsp;Your expectations and that of those around you, fears, worries, wishes, more often than not attach to a date, a time, a pre-determined point in the future.&nbsp;Click.&nbsp;Another year ends and a another year opens...&nbsp;Pointlessly.&nbsp;Today, take that pressure off.&nbsp;Don't think about what you'll do this year... think about what you are doing today. When the sun comes up tomorrow... do the same.&nbsp;Break time into seasons. Think about the beauty and opportunity in the seasons... for they are real. They mark changes in nature that impact us.&nbsp;Longer days, shorter days, warmer days, cooler days, windy days, snow, rain, sun, darkness, light.&nbsp;Days where we can do more outside, more inside, wear warmer clothes, cooler clothes, swim happily in oceans and streams or brace as we dip into a freezing cold, invigorating pond.&nbsp;So my friend. Thanks for being a part of my universe, for joining me and us on this journey to live our best lives.&nbsp;When the clock chimes tonight and the calendar ticks over... nothing will change. I will be here... for you.&nbsp;&nbsp;Take care and above all else... be kind.&nbsp;Troy&nbsp;Wellteam Founder

mortality

making time

So much of our life is attached to a calendar reference... a pointless reference. 

Think about life detached from time.

CLICK. THE POINTLESSNESS OF TIME.

It's just over 24 hours since my return from an epic adventure in Nepal. Along with me, Wellteam members from across the globe embarked on an incredible expedition, mountain biking up over the 5416 metre Thorong La Pass, high in the Himalayas in Nepal. Crossing one of the world's highest mountain passes was exhausting both mentally and physically. Reaching the top was a surprisingly emotional experience that felt like a transition for me. Perhaps it represented a type of closure for the first 50 years of my life. <img src="https://dl2vy1zx2qtgi.cloudfront.net/public_image/b61010cc3dd14ce05810391a5c2daa6d16059c83.jpeg" width="340" height="238.79481589147287" style="display: inline; float: right; margin: 0px 0px 1em 1em;" data-align="right"> Upon returning back, I've felt the need to reflect upon the journey and some of my life lessons to date. When I was a young man someone handed me a photocopied A4 sheet from a Santa Fe Newspaper titled 'Solutions to Everything' by Michael Ventura. It's simplicity stuck in my mind all these years and I often recall some of the passages. In response to this trip, coupled together with my years of curiosity, study and focus on health, wellbeing and the plight of modern men, here’s my "Solutions to everything". (In the order with which they came out of my mind). <h1 class="ql-align-center">SOLUTIONS TO EVERYTHING</h1>BY TROY FLOWER<ol><li>Reduce focus on money/wealth. Money is simply a tool to facilitate transactions between the things you have and the things you need/want. It has no value in and of itself. Focus instead on the goal or objective you are trying to achieve and it will unlock more opportunities and solutions. </li><li>Reduce your desire for possessions and ownership - for none of them are permanent. Ownership is a false ideal built to inflate the market value for something and enable the fallacy of wealth creation. Ask anyone who’s dead if that’s true. </li><li>Increase your sense of gratitude for what you have - this is the absolute key to being truly happy. </li><li>Treat the health of your mind and body as your highest priority. Without either, nothing else matters. </li><li>Embrace death. Know it will come. Have no fear of it. Accept it may happen at any time. Doing so will sharpen your desire to live better today.</li><li>Build and cultivate relationships with people aligned to your values. Emotional connections and shared <img src="https://dl2vy1zx2qtgi.cloudfront.net/public_image/ddf3e9b0d7f944890817aa273fa8ac8f4e9d80d3.jpeg" width="267" height="200.25" style="display: inline; float: right; margin: 0px 0px 1em 1em;" data-align="right">experiences are the greatest value exchange in life.</li><li>Know that every person has something to offer, but not every person knows what that is, or how to unlock it.</li><li>Question why you spend time on things. Don’t do anything big that consumes energy without an honest interrogation of why.</li><li>Understand that life is about energy. Life is not about time or money. Energy is circular, it is always transferred from one source to another. You don't create energy, you transfer it. It is give and take. </li><li>Be loyal to those you care about. Relationships are the fuel you need when things get tough. </li><li>Appreciate that while science can help us understand things… many things can’t be explained by science. Basing knowledge on science is like assuming that all language can be captured within the English alphabet. </li><li>Commit to meaningful 'epic' shit. Do big things that require courage, unlock energy and ensure that our <img src="https://dl2vy1zx2qtgi.cloudfront.net/public_image/41e4c5e74ce4ded5b7de392ec868886b7e10e395.jpeg" width="270" height="202.5" style="display: inline; margin: 0px 0px 1em 1em; float: right;" data-align="right">actions engage us fully. Without purposeful, meaningful action… what else is there?</li><li>Eat simple food. Drink simple drinks. Don’t make it hard for your body systems. Simple is what your body needs. Complex is what others needs to ensure higher profit.</li><li>The happiest people are not those who have the most, but those who want the least. Be grateful and take a regular stock-take of what you already have/are.</li><li>Start that thing today. Do what you can, where you are, with what you've got. </li><li>Recognise that the earth and universe has a time and space expanse that makes everything we do irrelevant. It was here billions of years before us and will be here billions of years after us. Nothing we do is permanent…ever. Live your life courageously. </li><li>Appreciate that ‘societal rules’ are driven, governed and reinforced by self-interested people.</li><li>Understand that everyone is right and wrong. It is our perspective that governs our position and our perspective is neither right nor wrong. </li><li>Be inquisitive around the concept of ‘soul’ and ‘mind’ even though they are impossible to prove or disprove. Not being able to prove or disprove something doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist. We can’t prove/disprove love as an example, but we think we know when we experience it. You don’t need to be religious to explore the idea of ‘soul’ or ‘mind’… just be curious.</li><li>Have rituals. No matter what they are. Rituals are a safe, reliable place to connect back to something that has value and meaning to us. Rituals ground us and remind us of things that are important.<img src="https://dl2vy1zx2qtgi.cloudfront.net/public_image/dd1fc3120a66cde60ecf8668d3cf4b16c0019580.jpeg" width="326" height="238.64202960322382" style="display: inline; float: right; margin: 0px 0px 1em 1em;" data-align="right"></li><li>Cultivate a calm mind. A state of calm is a rare, accessible and desirable state. Calm gives us access to the input from our senses. Our senses bring meaning into our lives. Without sight, sound, smell, taste, feeling, there is no value/joy. To enjoy our life… we must calm our minds. </li><li>Embrace challenges. Every challenge is a test, an opportunity to learn and grow. As with games, the longer you play, the harder the challenge. Without challenges, the game ceases to be interesting. </li><li>Get outside your comfort zone. Comfort is a modern-day killer. Discomfort triggers our senses to be on higher alert, we become more aware of our surroundings, adding more richness to our lives, and opening us up to more opportunities.</li><li><img src="https://dl2vy1zx2qtgi.cloudfront.net/public_image/e7734fff4ab8eca78ca1d38cf8471f510af1b672.jpeg" width="212" height="282.66066576086956" style="display: inline; float: right; margin: 0px 0px 1em 1em;" data-align="right">Be kind to everyone and everything. You never know what others are experiencing. Helping others with no expectation of reward is ironically, one of life's great rewards. </li><li>Appreciate that every living thing is significant in the life of another. All living things consume energy, produce energy and become energy for something, somewhere, sometime. Our stomach (technically outside our body) is like a galaxy to one hundred trillion living organisms (our micro-biome). Primarily bacteria, they breakdown what we eat. Without them… we’d be dead. </li><li>Forgive people. Anger, hurt, disappointment and frustration are emotions that eat away at us, not them. They close opportunities, trap us in the past. Forgive people and move on. You only have one life. </li><li>Don't take life too seriously. There is no rule book. There are no winners or losers. There are only those who enjoy and appreciate what they have and those who don't... that's all. </li></ol> "One day of life lived fully... beats a lifetime of envy and regret." Troy, Welteam Founder.

relationships

meditation

energy

After a 21 day expedition in the high himalayas, here are the solutions to everything. Enjoy.

What 21 days in Nepal taught me about life.

SOLUTIONS TO EVERYTHING.

CAUTION: This article contains an unpopular argument that some bandwagon politicians may find disturbing. <h1>In 2020, Australian death statistics show that men died 6 years younger than women <a href="https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/life-expectancy-death/deaths-in-australia/contents/age-at-death" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">(AIHW 2022)</a>.</h1> <h2>That's funerals, coffins, undertakers, crying families, kids, partners, parents, grandparents, colleagues, friends.</h2> Popular conversation today is underpinned by a message of equality...but death rates are a glaring disparity between men and women that never gets a mention, If modern culture is so great for men, if men have this incredibly charmed life...why do they get 7.5% less? That's a discount that no-one wants. For men under 65, heart disease and suicide remain the biggest killers. Two things that can be largely prevented. I've spent a large portion of my life dancing across a mix of healthcare, tourism, pharmaceuticals, charity, corporate stress, small business, global giants, farming, modern ageing. I've seen struggle street and the ego show at the top... Men die early at all levels of society...period. <h1>The problem is not men.</h1> <h2>The problem is the pressure on men to live up to societal expectations and 200,000 years of genetic conditioning.</h2> If we can't figure out how to change the: what it takes to be a man 'male narrative', then we're screwed. More men will die in greater numbers, faster than before... ...and unless the status pressure on individuals and families shifts towards health and wellbeing...women and children will step into the same breach too. History and DNA are not simply taps that can turned off on request...they take time...and affirmative action. If we're serious about equality in life, start with the problems, not behaviours. If we seek to put all men in the same bucket, then toxic, moronic, influential, motivational, counter-culture heroes like Andrew Tate will fill the void. Sadly, while we're all out tearing down Will Smith for screwing up publicly, Tate is driving his own narrative, one that's far more deadly, purposeful and profitable. Let's push for a new culture, a culture that supports a healthier, kinder, fitter, calmer, clearer, stronger, more confident, less stressed man...woman and child. Let's be patient, let's use kindness and compassion that we so espouse as the virtues we seek in men...men brought up on a diet of toughness and independence. Let's seriously change the game. The Wellteam Global Challenge is at your service. We're calling on leaders, companies, organisations, politicians, CEO's, people and culture leaders and all those out there who give a shit about men dying too early. Take care out there and go well. TroyWellteam Founder. P.S. Commit to personal change and <a href="https://www.wellteam.me/survey" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">do Wellteam's Scorecard Tool today</a> - it's FREE, you'll get a personal online instant report and join a custom program with a 14 day FREE trial. Don't just talk about change - live it.

corporate wellbeing

program

If life is so great for men, why do they die six years younger than women? What can you do about it?

It's time to change the game for Men's Health.

UNFAIR. MEN GET A 7.5% DISCOUNT.

When you start a new business like&nbsp;Wellteam&nbsp;you have to make a lot of sacrifices, it's tough. It requires stepping away from a regular paycheck, any immediate income, it requires drawing down into savings or chewing back into your homeloan, selling stuff to free up cash so you can keep your vision alive. If you do it in your 20's you're a hero, but if you do it when you have a partner and kids...you're selfish, foolish, driven by ego. Now I've been criticised personally for doing what some in society see as 'the wrong thing by my family'. But what those people don't get is the buy in from my family. Should success in life be solely based on how much money you can deliver to your partner and kids? Should your success be in raising spoilt kids, who want for nothing in life? I guess that's your call.&nbsp; Sonia and I started Wellteam because we've experienced how life can be cut short, really early. We lost Sonia's parents in their 60's, one due to cancer, the other due to an unrelenting darkness. It was completely devastating...and still is. We felt powerless in both cases. We lost my mother two years ago from COPD brought on by smoking and when I was younger my father stepped very very close to the dark light after a failed business venture. In my 20's I returned to my family home one weekend to find a loaded gun in our garage. Dad only spoke about his pain, frustration, isolation and sadness almost 30 years later...after we started Wellteam.&nbsp; <h2>Life is tough, whatever your story. We all have them.</h2> It seems every corner I turn now there's a negative new story about a 40-60 year old man who's done something wrong. We tear them down, like they're villains. Maybe some are, but maybe some are just worn down, lost, frustrated, tired, exhausted and stuck. Stuck. Maybe it's just hard to know what role to play in society today. Maybe we've ticked all the status boxes; car, house, job title, partner, kids, passport stamps, income and realised that there's still something fundamental that's missing. We're still not happy, not necessarily unhappy either but can't put our finger on what's missing. We're stuck between being raised as a 'historical man' by grandparents, parents, partners, doctors, lawyers, politicians, teachers, partners, kids and society and now... ...now we're expected to be a 'neutral gendered person' with no bias, masculine drive or traditional 'male' tendencies. We should all pay for the sins of a minority of questionable individuals...who happen to also be men. We have to completely rewire ourselves at an age when the pressures mount to be great providers for our families. To be tough, strong, resilient...and yet soft, gentle and vulnerable. Wellteam is out to provide a space in the middle, a place of trust, with camaraderie and men out to reboot themselves with more energy, drive and purpose. Good men. Men who know that the best way to look after their families is by living their own life healthier and happier. To, as they say on the plane, 'fit their own oxygen mask first'. Living healthier is not a choice of the modern man...it is an imperative. We must regain or perhaps reinvent what it is to feel in control. Men must seek out ways to explore what's possible without the 'toxic masculinity' that pervades so many traditional male 'packs'. We are Wellteam. We're starting a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/feed/hashtag/?keywords=healthrevolution&amp;highlightedUpdateUrns=urn%3Ali%3Aactivity%3A7027111016006111232" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(15, 248, 7);">#healthrevolution</a>. It's happening already. Here's what some of our members have to say...and we're just warming up. In fact, we haven't even publicly launched Wellteam yet. <iframe class="ql-video" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Ye51m68Vvpc?showinfo=0"></iframe> Get on board now, join Wellteam. <a href="https://www.wellteam.me/survey" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(15, 248, 7);">Get started today</a>. It's all up to you now. It's your life. I'm here for you. TroyWellteam Founder, husband, father, son, brother, friend.

Starting a business is hard, starting a revolution is next level! Here's the why behind Wellteam.

Why Troy and Sonia sacrifice so much for Wellteam. 

The joy, pain and sacrifice of starting Wellteam

<h2>It's hard to believe that one day you will die.</h2> If you're a male in your 40's or 50's, you've already made a significant dent in your life bucket. Our analysis of the Australian Bureau of Statistics Deaths in Australia web report 2021 data showed that in 2019: <ul><li>15% of all male adults died before their 60th birthday</li><li>29% died before their 70th birthday</li><li>53% were pushing up daisies before they turned 80</li></ul> That's not the average age of death, it's reality. We think we'll live forever. We plan to 'live it up' after we retire but in 2019 almost 1 in every 3 men were dead before they hit 70. Sobering? Do you ever question your purpose in life? It's worth considering how you'll be remembered. When people raise a glass in your name, what will they say? On the 1st April last year, I said goodbye to my mum at 74, after a brave fight. For me, she is a reminder of never quitting, never giving up while there's still life in your body. She was a warrior, she was stoic and she was a champion of those in need of love and support. <img src="https://dl2vy1zx2qtgi.cloudfront.net/public_image/d66b6b7021e5025bbb9f97b2aeb42a786f158545.png"> How will you be remembered and for how long? I hate to break it to you but in reality, you won't be remembered for very long. It's important to appreciate that what you have in life and even the memories of you after death, are not permanent. Not convinced? Stop and recall what you know of any relative of yours that died over 100 years ago. What do you remember? What was their job? Did they routinely work over-time? What were they known for? What was said at their funeral? Life is short and the recall of your heroic deeds in the office will likely be even shorter. If your sole purpose in life is your work, then perhaps you're in for a rude shock when you leave. I spoke with someone recently who had worked for a significant time in a big bank. They fought their way up to the lofty heights. They had a real passion for their employees, their team, the company. They put in the long hours, the big days. They were proud of their efforts and rightly so. But... ...within weeks of leaving, their history was erased. Someone new was changing the game they created. Their hard work forgotten. Their purpose, for most of their career evaporated. It turns out their legacy wasn't written in gold leaf but invisible ink. Is your current plan to focus hard on work and wait for retirement before you travel, explore hobbies, get fit and healthy again? Sadly, for many, it just doesn't play out that way. When we lose our purpose and our status we slip into a hole that can be hard to fight our way out of. For some those retirement years will be short, sad and lonely. <h2>Start 'living life' now. Look for purpose outside of work, whatever that is. If finding your purpose is hard, here's a suggestion: Get fit and healthy and you'll have more time to work it out. Make Wellteam's purpose, your purpose.</h2> Right now, the world needs leaders for a healthier way of living. By healthier, I'm not just talking exercise, I'm talking mental calm, clarity, kindness, friendships, relationships, better food. The world is crying out for people brave enough to put wellbeing first. Got kids or grandkids? Childhood obesity is at an all-time high. Depression is skyrocketing. Suicide rates are up and rising. Almost 50% of men will develop at least one chronic disease in their life. 50% of men in the US reported being lonely always or sometimes and 33% reported having no close friendships. No-one to turn to when they need it. There's real work to be done! Would you live better knowing those around you are happier and healthier because you made a decision to step up?&nbsp; Whether you like it or not, you're a role model in your workplace, your family and your community. Step up to the challenge now.<h3> </h3><h2>Ready?</h2><ol><li>Get your <a href="https://www.wellteam.me/survey" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">baseline report</a>.</li><li>Join a <a href="https://www.wellteam.me/challenges" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Guided, Self-Guided or Custom Program</a></li><li>Log your daily healthy habits on your <a href="https://www.wellteam.me/auth/login" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Wellteam Dashboard</a> and work your way up the global leaderboards.</li></ol> Participating in Wellteam’s Global Revolution is a great way to build healthier habits and also encourages others. Join a growing global team united to inspire others for a happier, healthier world. Go well. TroyWellteam Instigator

How will you be remembered after your death? Will it be your work, your spirit, attitude or nothing?

Live your life with purpose.

Raise a Glass to a Kind and Generous Man.

<h2>Remember a time when you did things because they were fun?</h2> As we 'grow up' we choose things for financial reasons and the things we do for fun become a lower priority. This image is of the Murray Bridge Pedal Prix, taken at 6am after 18 hours of racing in the Australian Human Powered Vehicle Super Series run by <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/feed/#" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: var(--color-text); background-color: var(--artdeco-reset-link-background-color-transparent);">Australian International Pedal Prix</a> Kids and adults pedal enclosed recumbent bikes or 'trikes' (lightweight racing machines with carbon fibre shells) for 24 hours in relay teams. Driving one of these high performance machines is awesome. It's exhausting and exciting weaving in and out of traffic and trying not to roll over (it happens a lot). It requires teamwork, skills, training, maintenance, planning, nutrition and builds camaraderie within and amongst teams. Take a look inside a high performance trike and the set up. <iframe class="ql-video" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/i6dQ81i9XDk?showinfo=0"></iframe> This sport is very cool but there's something that's sad about it. It's not a professional sport, so some parents won't permit their kids to participate as they can't go onto a career in it. How freakin sad is that? What happened to building life skills and exploring new experiences while having fun? As we age, how many of us have lost our way, choosing financial security over living our best life. I catch myself instilling the capitalist mantra of 'get a good, high paying job and set yourself up for life' with my kids. But really, what do you remember in life? Is it experiences, or possessions that you gain the most satisfaction from? How much do the things you love cost? Pedal Prix is exciting, it's healthy, it's competitive, requires multiple skill sets and is raced as a team. If you get a chance to try it, do it. You will however have to prioritise it over something else. <h2>LIFE TIP: Find things in your life that you do for joy, not money and not because you have to.</h2> Do this simple exercise, write on a piece of paper all the things that bring you true joy (not the stuff you think you should enjoy, but the stuff that makes you go 'YEAH'). Write them down then circle the ones you do regularly. Most men over 40 struggle to identify five and likely only circle one or two. Do this exercise to take stock on whether you're living your best life. When you lie on your death bed (and you will), what will you recall with a smile? Your bank balance? All the days you worked late to satisfy your company? The sacrifices you made for your financial security? Get balance in your life. Get your smile back. Find what makes you happy again. Do more of that. NOTE: This is not a call out to resign or quit your job or even embrace the 'Quit Quietly' concept, it's just a reminder. You have one life, get some balance in it, find more YEAH moments in each and every day or week. Schedule them in as they are the most important things for living your best life. You've got this. Check out this video by the GTrikes team, just in case you prioritise some time for healthy fun. If you're interested we'd love to put together a Wellteam Racing Team...just for fun of course, we wouldn't try to win...too often! <iframe class="ql-video" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/6G2eBogK6Zg?showinfo=0"></iframe>

When was the last time you smiled and laughed uncontrollably? 

Schedule more 'living' into your life.

Do you have your priorities right?

The older we get, the faster time passes. That's rather unsettling news, particularly if ill health is looking to rob you of any of it. If you're sitting back waiting for the magic pill, then current trends suggests things may not play out well for you. If, on the other hand, you're in the 40 - 60's bracket and you're re-prioritising your wellbeing, then you're well positioned. Taking action in this age bracket is critical. Get on the front foot now and hopefully the below quote will make you smile, not shudder: There are three types of people in the world: 1. Those who watch things happen2. Those who make things happen3. Those who wonder what the hell happened. When it comes to health and wellbeing, Wellteam provides programs for those who are prepared to make things happen. As more men take on our programs, we're seeing something interesting... ...men join for the challenge, they stay for the community. The camaraderie built by going through a series of wellbeing experiments is strong...and healthy. In the movie Bohemian Rhapsody, Freddy Mercury (Rami Malek) said that Queen didn't play to the mainstream audience, they played "to those in the back of the room". That line really resonated with me because I think... ...Wellteam plays to the men in the back of the room. We're attracting diverse and interesting men, thinkers, learners, hard workers, those willing to challenge themselves, try something new, push the status quo, they're humble, they get outside their comfort zones, they push back against the pull of toxic masculinity and live their best lives wherever they are, with whatever they've got. They're good men. That's what we're growing...a movement of good men, open to improving our lives by challenging our own behaviours and habits. It's still early days for Wellteam, and while we've been quietly active since October 2020 we haven't technically launched yet. <img src="https://dl2vy1zx2qtgi.cloudfront.net/public_image/5cca74259d7e1b0d86cc0f922de476415b64bf43.jpeg"> <h2>Why size really matters </h2> While growth is strong and critical to enable Wellteam to expand services to members, it's more important for other reason entirely: <ul><li>46% of men will develop at least one chronic disease in their life (many of which are preventable).</li><li>72% of men won't seek help for mental health issues when they need it</li><li>50% of men reporting feeling lonely 'sometimes' or 'always'</li><li>32% of men report having no close friends</li></ul> This is why Wellteam exists and I suspect why we're growing fast. These stats are often invisible to all but the person experiencing them. We may not tell our closest friends or family, and... none of us are immune. While the health care system is busy patching up the unwell, Wellteam is focused on optimising lives, health and wellbeing. When we (and others) succeed, fewer people will need patching up early in their lives, we will free up the healthcare system by living lives in a "well-care" system. We will live healthier, happier, more fulfilling lives for longer. At present we're growing based on 100% referrals from members...no paid advertising, and that's important. Men 40 - 60+ have great bullshit filters. We've seen and heard all the ads before. We're immune to the crap. But we'll listen intently to others we trust and respect. This is the way we change what is a very real gender gap in wellbeing outcomes across the world. Men die earlier than women, generally in poorer health because they traditionally focus on financial security (the provider role) and put their health and wellbeing last. While those traditional roles are changing for younger people, there's plenty of men still trapped in between the conservative, post-war paradigm of our parents and the radical new world of our kids. Regardless of age, in the world right now, we need more focus on wellbeing, not money, not status objects. For men in particular, that's a big shift. A very necessary, big shift. <img src="https://dl2vy1zx2qtgi.cloudfront.net/public_image/55c7c6b301311a42dabbe565e6d11075b74ab17e.jpeg"> <h3>Never underestimate the impact you have on the lives of others.</h3> Wellteam members are leaders, whether they chose that or not. Taking on a challenge for a healthier life is having a broader impact than they might imagine. Every healthy photo they're in, every conversation about every wellbeing experiment, every comment, every like, every share, every email, is sending a message to others that prioritising health and wellbeing is the right thing to do...right now. On top of that, Wellteam'ers are setting a new standard for those around them. Seeing positive male role models focusing actively on their wellbeing is something that can have a profound effect on them for the rest of their lives. Health aficionados' tell us that the best age to implement wellbeing programs is in our kids. The reality is that most boys see their fathers as their primary role models. If dad's sitting on the couch, downing a dozen stubbies after work with a bag of Mc Chucks on his lap then his son's moving that way, like it or not. The buck stops with Dad to role model healthier options. Every life matters, and Wellteam members are making a positive impact. So this is a very personal and warm thank you to all our members and future members. Thank you. We're building...this, as always...is just the beginning.

The world needs men to take a positive stand for their health and wellbeing. We need role-models. 

Why Wellteam membership is so important.

Your action matters now more than ever.

Life really is crazy right now. We find ourselves spending more time in front of a computer screen and not enough time interacting socially with people, even just for fun. We're also consuming more information outside of our control and then waste precious time trying to process it all (awake and asleep). Our connection with technology in the last two years has now normalised the amount of time we now spend on it. In a 20 minute break from work we can check out the latest war update from Ukraine, watch live images of flooding/bushfires, car crashes, spectacular stunts (usually the ones that go wrong) and dive into the latest conspiracy theory on vaccines, world domination, 'the great cull' and more. If you spent that 20 minutes refreshing your mind with some meditation, walking out in nature, doing some simple strength or stretching exercises, journalling, calling a friend, sitting sharing a drink with family or listening to an inspiring piece of music, you'd be much better off. The challenge is, that as humans, we're wired to focus on danger and threats. Our natural bias toward external threats has kept us alive. It's the reason that conspiracy theories flourish in times of uncertainty. Most people don't have the energy, focus, desire, drive or knowledge to scratch deeper and do the balanced research or thinking. It's much easier to skim the surface. When uncertainty grows, (and there's plenty to be uncertain about now) it's easy to become confused and then overwhelmed. When we're in this state, we get tired, we lack energy, we seek energy and comfort in caffeine, dull the pain with drugs, dismiss the world with Netflix (a show about conspiracy theories perhaps) or hide at home with a bottle of red and a bucket of KFC. It's easy to do, it's attractive, gives instant gratification and no-one would think any the worse of you if you did. There is another option though....yeah, yeah, I hear you saying...exercise, diet, meditation - we know! Well, those activities will help, no doubt, but perhaps another approach right now is to do a simple exercise. Take out a piece of blank paper - use a book if you have one. <h2>A point in time</h2><h2> </h2>Write on the top of the paper "A point in time". On that piece of paper, write about where you are right now, all the stuff that's going on in your life and in your head. Write about what worries you and what excites you. Importantly write about what you know to be true in your life. Not what you think could be true. Our minds are generally over-active and we love to prepare for the worst scenarios (of which there are plenty). But you can't accurately predict the future better than anyone else. What you can do is understand your now. Sometimes we have to take stock, consider what we have, what we know to be true and switch off to the mass of stories now at our disposal. Don't let others people's priorities over-ride yours. Typically if you're reading something on social media, someone is likely to be benefiting from you reading it (whether that's financially, politically or their ego/status). For me, one of my favourite times is now catching up with fellow Wellteam members via zoom on a Monday or on Saturday's 7am social exercise sessions. It's refreshing to sit around with healthy conversation and a group of blokes from all walks of life. Take some time out today, write 'A point in time' and get all the stuff that's going on in your head, out on paper - you'll feel better, trust me. While you're at it, make sure you run your own bullshit filter over what you've written. Be sure to fact check it for stories versus truth. If you haven't do so already, join a Wellteam program. It's a great way to build mental and physical resilience. We're out to build a healthier world, one good man at a time. Take care and go well. TroyWellteam Instigator.

There's a lot we can spend our time on now. Make sure you're adding value to life, not stealing it.

Eliminate mind-wasting activities.

Maintain your focus

If you're an Indiana Jones fan like me, you might remember that line. It's in a crucial scene from Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade where Walter Donovan is about to drink from what he believes to be the Holy Grail. <img src="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/6c8d7e_140ce779cc3a457b8d510de1a5b08d49~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_540,h_281,al_c,q_90/6c8d7e_140ce779cc3a457b8d510de1a5b08d49~mv2.webp">Walter Donovan prepares to drink from the 'Holy Grail' The Grail chosen was the most beautiful and expensive looking among a range of options. For the rather unsavoury Donovan, it carries the promise of eternal life. The Grail Knight, played by actor Robert Eddison sets forth the challenge of the grail. <blockquote>You must choose. But choose wisely. For as the true Grail will bring you life, a false Grail will take it from you.</blockquote> Isn't this so true for life today. Marketers have become expert at convincing us to drink from "False Grails" every day. It's quite challenging to sort fact from fiction and make good choices, not only for ourselves but for those we care about. It's easy to be bedazzled by the promise of looking fitter, younger, healthier, wealthier, smarter etc just by buying something else. All too often it's another 'false grail'. The true key to a healthier and happier life often rests in choosing an option that works, without the false promise. Just as Indiana Jones chose, a simple, well-used cup without all the dazzle. <img src="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/6c8d7e_0509fd59e3294617a6ea3173d23a1c82~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_362,h_271,al_c,q_90/6c8d7e_0509fd59e3294617a6ea3173d23a1c82~mv2.webp">Indiana Jones drinks from the true 'Holy Grail' Wellteam is designed for men 40 - 60+ with programs constructed around simple and achievable ways to get happier and healthier. We hear a lot from members going through our current Accelerate and Launch programs that one simple thing made a big difference. That's quite a common thing. It's the true 'Grail'. We need to get the simple stuff right. To do that often doesn't cost money, it often saves money and can put healthier years back on our lives. Understanding what gives you that feeling of happiness and energy is critical for life. If we don't have it clear in our minds what brings us happiness (where our passion is) then what hope do we have of achieving more of it? While it seems like such a simple hack, it's very important, as... ...spending time on a true passion will give you life...a false passion will take life from you. If you haven't yet jumped into a Wellteam Program yet there's new program open right now. If you're not sure where to start, use the Scorecard tool and get a custom program built for your needs. We'll even throw in a 14 day trial to get you started. Where ever you are and what ever you're doing with your time.... ...choose wisely. Choose well. TroyWellteam Instigator

Marketing companies are expert at driving our wants. Don't be sucked in. 

Your time is short. Choose how you spend it wisely.

The power of choice

Yesterday I had a wonderful and challenging conversation about freedom with fellow Wellteam member Jason Dunstone. Jason is one smart individual and owns a very successful human insights agency called Square Holes, based in Adelaide, Australia. The conversation started around what we did over the Christmas break. Sonia, our kids and I spent time with my wonderful parents in a town called Bendigo in Victoria (Australia) and then went camping in the amazing North East of Victoria. Jason and his family went to the coast and hired a beach-house. We both reflected on how fortunate we were to be able to do these activities. Fortunate to be able to take a break from working and during Covid, to be able to get away at all. It led us to the question of what's life all about. We pondered "YEAH" moments, which we felt often correlated with a sense of freedom. Freedom for us both was quite different. As we're starting a new business, which is still in its early phase, cash flow is tight and camping is our key option if we want to get away. In contrast Square Holes has been running now for 16 years and going from strength to strength. For Jason, it was a positive year, largely due to a strong reputation and immense effort and the beach house was an option but beyond our means. The conversation was great and we considered the tradeoffs in life between work and play. There are nearly always tradeoffs we have to make. With infinite possibilities for choice in our lives when we choose one thing, we take others off the table. That made me wonder what the formula was for more freedom in life. When I got home, I got in touch with my super-nerdy side and started to develop a formula for freedom. I started here: Freedom = income &gt; (greater than) expenses The logic being that surplus income beyond your needs gives you freedom to spend on whatever makes you happy. While this really only equates to financial freedom, it does present some simple strategies. If Freedom = income &gt; expenses then logically, for more freedom: - increase incomeand/or- decrease expenditure Those of you who have followed the increase income path may reflect that increasing income often equates with longer days, increased stress and less time doing what you love. When you're on this path, you often increase expenditure to compensate for the crap you put up with trying to grow your income. Freedom, can be a trap! Society (ie. capitalism in general) also screws with the formula by imposing a basic rule: If income &gt; expenditure =&gt; you should borrow money to grow assets Remember, the formula for good capitalism (growth of economy): Good economy = what you should have &gt; what you have. This ensures we all live beyond our means and creates growth which drives us all to work harder, our economy grows, creating more jobs for more people. Politicians get re-elected and banks continue to flourish. Everyone is happy! At the same time, to ensure this happens, marketing agencies are engaged to make us believe in another simple formula: Increased expenditure = look more successful = attract more attractive people This is the reason why expensive cheese, wine, gin, whisky, saki, Gucci, Rolex, Rolls Royce &amp; Labradoodles exist. None of them do their functional job any better than cheaper alternatives, except maybe Labradoodles. Labradoodles are lazier than labradors and more cuddly than poodles - improving their primary purpose: to calm us down, relieve our stress and signal success to our friends and neighbours (ie. we spent the price of a small car on a smelly, lumpy, cuddly doormat). Cuddly cross-bred dogs aside (they used to be referred to as mongrels before they became a fashion object) the reality for true financial freedom is: Freedom = means &gt; needs The formula only remain stable when our wants &lt;/= to our needs Problem:What if wants and needs can't be brought? My mother, who has so much life left in her, is fighting every second for oxygen due to a lung condition. For her, neither a beach-house nor camping holiday are options. Her next breath is her priority and freedom for her is a truly deep breath that fills her lungs and relaxes her body. Sadly, that can't be brought. So let's rework our freedom formula to add in health: Freedom = ((means/needs) + (needs/wants)) x health(where normal health = 1.o and death = 0) Health however is such a broad term and not healthy for trying to determine freedom. So let's break health down into a simple formula. Health = Clarity to make meaningful decisions and understand the consequences (C = 1.0) x Ability to undertake daily physical needs (A = 1.0) The <a href="https://www.who.int/ageing/health-systems/clinical-consortium/CCHA2017-backgroundpaper-1.pdf" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: var(--ricos-custom-link-color,var(--ricos-action-color,#0261ff));">World Health Organisation used the term "Intrinsic Capacity</a>" to identify the combination of cognitive and physical abilities. That sounds more intelligent and because it's the WHO it packs some punch. So let's use IC = C x A So I think we're getting there. Are you as excited as I am? Freedom is so close I can taste it...and it looks surprisingly...affordable. I can hardly wait. Here goes... Freedom = ((means/needs) + (needs/wants)) x intrinsic capacity But wait... ...will that make me free, will I be happy? If I look back on 2020, how many people had freedom but didn't appreciate it, or enjoy it? I actually think this formula is a pretty simple and effective way to think about life and reducing stress but will it make you free in your mind. Freedom, in my mind, isn't achieved by a formula. Freedom is a 'state of mind' that can be achieved with practice and patience. Freedom for me is the ability to sit and switch off to all the distractions around me. I experienced an incredible state of freedom just once in recent years. I was holidaying on the beautiful island of Bali (Indonesia) with my wife Sonia. We were staying in a lovely little village called Ubud, up in the mountains. I was in a crappy mood. My mind was super-active (often referred to as monkey-mind), I couldn't relax, couldn't switch off. I had a great job, good income, senior level, decision maker, great team, my needs were less than my means, my wants remained low, my intrinsic capacity was good...but I wasn't experiencing freedom, I was trapped. I was trapped in my own head. My mind was in over-drive, I could only see possibilities, options, choices, challenges, opportunity - all positive things. Sadly, I couldn't see them. I couldn't see the beautiful forest around me, my beautiful wife, the monkeys in the trees, I couldn't smell the amazing food. I left the lovely resort we were staying in and walked into a beautiful forest with massive old trees, vines, old temples and monkeys (the Money Forest). It was late in the day and I sat down near an old temple and tried to calm down. I began to meditate but was failing. I kept at it, I kept getting distracted and it was frustrating. I persevered. I sat there, motionless for over an hour. I wasn't cross-legged in some human pretzel pose. I just sat on a step, to the side of old temple and breathed...and breathed...and breathed. At some point I noticed something shift. My mind slowed to a stop, my eyes stopped moving, I could hear my breath go in and out. Then I somehow connected with the environment around me in a profound kind of way. I can't really explain it but it was a magical moment. I was wide awake, I was so beautifully still. It was peace...it was freedom. I have sought that moment almost everyday since it happened. I have come close, had similar experiences but never the same level of freedom. I crave it. It was true freedom. After that experience, my holiday was amazing and my life changed. I found freedom and I can only hope you all experience it too. So, for me... Freedom = the experience of being truly present, without distraction. For some tips on achieving that level of freedom, head to <a href="https://www.wellteam.me/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: var(--ricos-custom-link-color,var(--ricos-action-color,#0261ff));">Wellteam.me</a> and join one of our programs and community. Please take care and go well. Troy P.S. I'd love for you to join the conversation and share your formula for freedom. There are no wrong answers, just more insight to share. Please comment below.

Yesterday I had a wonderful and c

My formula for freedom

While it's the start of a new year we think we've all the time in the world to make the most of this year...but we don't! Consider how quickly last year went. Before you knew it, it was February or March. That's nearly 30 or 60 days that just pass us by, in the blink of an eye. You know it happens. So let's take control. Let's 'up' the game a little. It's time to consider the fact that we are mortal, and therefore we will die. If you knew you were going to die by the end of this year, what would your priority activities be? <ul><li>Would you want to work harder or work smarter?</li><li>More time at work or more time with family and friends?</li><li>Aim for that promotion, or for more laughter?</li><li>Make a million dollars or do something kind and help people you care about?</li><li>Buy more things, or share more time with people you care about?</li><li>More time in the office or more time in nature?</li></ul> What would you be willing to trade? It's a new year, so it's time to make a plan for optimising this year. Here's a really simple and sometimes confronting exercise to get you started. Most of Wellteam's programs go into more detail but this should get you started. Here goes... In the middle of a blank page, write 'me' and draw a small circle around it. Then, think about the things that you love to do. What we call "YEAH" moments. As you think of something you love (be specific) write it down, circle it and draw a line from 'me' to that new circle. Keep your writing and circles small. NOTE: Your 'YEAH' moments are personal - they are not what you think you should enjoy or what others think you should enjoy. What makes you feel great?​You might extend out beyond your original circles - say your write 'time with kids' in a circle - maybe your favourite thing about kids is the 'weekends' and 'helping with homework' put those in circles and connect them to 'kids'.​You don't have to share this with anyone, so keep it safe, keep it honest, keep it real. This is a simple activity but a very powerful one. If you're not planning more 'YEAH' moments into your life right now, then you're missing out. Your mission this year should be to have more "YEAH" moments. Live the year, like you could be dead at the end of it. The confronting reality is that many people right now will be dead before the end of the year. They just don't know it. That's not a morbid comment, and not designed to scare you, it's just a reality, so consider it when you're planning your year. It's time to plan, it's time to move, it's time to YEAH. What makes you YEAH?

Life moves quickly, don't let it pass you by.

Do you Plan for "yeah" moments?

It's January 4, 2021 and we've deliberately held off posting the last few days. While January 1 can be a great time to set new goals, it's often not the best time. The excitement of a new year should soften just a bit before we set our plan for the year ahead. In a photography sense, we call this a 'shot list'. There's a lot of pressure around January 1. I would personally, almost religiously, get my notepad out and find a quiet place to write my goals for the next year. The goals I set on January 1 were often lofty, idealistic and not well thought through. I now find it much better to let the excitement wear off, sit down and quietly consider my shot list for the year ahead. Last year was special, different to most and the year ahead is likely to present a few more surprises. With this in mind, we invite you to consider dividing your year up into something that doesn't change (well, not dramatically)...the weather. Typically, the weather, categorised by seasons, dictates our moods, our activities, our food, our drinks, our work program, even our friends, colleagues. So this year split your year ahead up into seasons. Seasons helps us to focus on nature and ideally the activities we can do out in nature. Wellteam programs have great hacks/tools to guide you to consider who you are and how you'll spend your time ahead. Please, engage with your purpose and in the meantime... ...try this simple exercise: <ol><li>Take out a blank page of paper and write at the top of the page "Shot list for 2021".</li><li>Divide your page up into the four seasons or quarters of the year</li><li>Write in each season 2-3 things that will make you excited, happy, fulfilled (your YEAH! moments)</li><li>Ensure each point is clearly defined so you can say you achieved it. Avoid 'meditate daily' style goals - if you miss one day, you've failed. Set yourself up to succeed. Use the SMART framework (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant (to you), Time bound).</li></ol> FOR EXTRA VALUE: Find a photo that represents the image that you'll take when you achieve each of your YEAH moments. Store that image. We want you to share that image with us when you achieve it. Remember, life is short, shorter than we imagine so don't delay. To really optimise your year, ensure you put a movement based goal or event in each quarter. Nothing holds you to account for exercise goals better than an event with others. Post your event goals below or just the photos (your shot list images). We'd love to hear what you're planning on this quarter and this year. Do what you can, where you are, with what you've got. Let's go. Troy and the Wellteam Crew.

Assemble your shot-list for the next 12 months.

and it begins...again

Life is short and you have an abundance of ways to occupy it before you die. So how do you spend your time wisely for the best outcome...for who? Without a doubt one of the more challenging questions I asked myself was 'who do I seek approval from?' This is one of my favourite hacks as part of Purpose Optimisation. Such a simple and thought provoking exercise. Are you game? Grab a piece of paper or a page in a notebook and write the heading: Who do I seek approval from. Under this heading, list the names of people who you seek approval from, in as much detail as possible, be as specific as you can. If you have the courage to do this exercise, do it now before reading on. --------------Well done.The next question to ask yourself is 'why?' Why do I seek approval from these people. Write that down now as well. For much of our life we're taught, through schools, games, sports, work, that our value in life is determined by what others think of us. We continue on in life seeking approval, wanting to show others how successful we are against their standards. We shift from exam grades, report cards, selection in teams over to promotions, titles, salaries and status objects. We crave the feedback from people around us to feel fulfilled. We go searching for these things, we compromise our life now in the hope that the car, the house, the job title, the salary, the expensive (did I mention "expensive") bottle of wine at the table will be enough. Enough to gain approval from others. But they don't. The people worth impressing probably just think you're a wanker. There's a reason money doesn't buy happiness. It's because happiness can't be brought, but it does get traded everyday for status objects. Time with family, time with loved ones, the right decision for the environment, for people who need your help, for those less fortunate. These are the things that matter. So now... Who should you seek approval from?When you are on your death bed, who's eyes would you like to look down upon you saying "Thank you, you did good". P.S. There are no right or wrong answers to these questions - there are only your answers. So be honest with yourself.

Ever asked: Who are you beating yourself up for?

Who is really in control?

Have you ever fallen victim to the post resolution slump? The key to starting a new year is not to start with a resolution...start with a plan. Wellteam helps people build plans that stick. Simple tips, done daily to optimise your life. It's that simple and that powerful. Wellteam has a big focus on purpose and we deliberately have purpose optimisation in most of our programs. Anyone who has set a new years resolution at 12.05am on New Years day knows the value of setting goals when you're pissed, drunk, tired, drugged up, emotional or trying to pick someone up. Focusing on your purpose is best done with a clear mind, a well functioning body and with a mindset that's already targeting an optimal life. Get in early, before the end of the year and start with a plan, start now and get on board with a Wellteam program. Let's start next year with some momentum, a positive community around us and a plan to thrive throughout the year and beyond. Get your plan in place. In fact, start anytime throughout the year and check-in with your progress at the start of your new year. That's how to be optimised. Go well. Troy (instigator of Wellteam)

Have you ever fallen victim to the 

Avoid the resolutions slump

The key to an optimised life is be clear on where you are heading. You don't need to have long term goals - many with long term goals live unhappy lives, chasing something always beyond their reach. The key to an optimised life is to have some destinations, what we call Waypoints. Waypoints are more flexible than goals, so if the winds are blowing against you, you can return to Waypoints when conditions are more favourable. Take a few minutes now to write three things you want to achieve in the next few weeks. Write them down and then set up a calendar appointment in your diary first thing each morning (repeating entry). Write your goals in there as a daily appointment. You can also use a reminder function on your smart phone or computer. When you wake up, remind yourself of where you're heading and your mind will make subconscious choices throughout the day to help you get there. If you haven't yet formulated a plan of attack for the next few years, then we'd love you to join the next Launch Program. There's some comprehensive tools for members to help you define yourself and your purpose. Remember: If you don't know where you're going, any road will take you there. There's a lot of incredible adventures to be had in life and a lot of dead end roads. Don't miss your chance. This is your time to thrive.

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