The Whole Man Journal is three short reads a week — Monday, Wednesday, Friday. On your energy and your edge, going further in business, knowing where you're headed, and the men you surround yourself with. For men aged 35 to 60 with serious ambitions and the belief their best years are still ahead. From the Whole Man Academy, running men's events across the UK since 2018. Add your email below and join the men already reading.
the invisible force holding you back
|
This week I spent an hour with Rick Cooper to plot out more of the programme for The Adventurer Experience. He’s co-hosting the event with me in May. We had several angles to work through with men that could help them move forward in one or more areas of life. But we kept coming back to the same thing. It's not a man's lack of time because he is so fucking busy. Not lack of money in his bank account, despite the Government doing their best to get their dirty hands on every last penny you have. And a common thought would be that it's a lack of motivation to make the moves he needs to get on with. It's actually something that we all have inside us. Fear. It's not an overwhelming fear like you are totally shit scared. This is more of a quiet, rational, well-disguised fear that keeps men exactly where they are. Rick’s going to be unpacking this properly at the event. He told me about the areas he wants to cover and it felt like it will hit the mark perfectly. Not in a 'I'm so tough I don't feel fear' kind of way… But in a real, grounded way that makes you look at where you’ve been holding yourself back in life. It could be your work (very common), your health, your relationships, and your general life direction. ...or even just starting that side hustle you've been banging on about for years and doing fuck all with. And this is one of the reasons this event has been so successful in 2024 and 2025. Men need an environment where they can finally face the things they’ve been avoiding... ...but with an action based outcome they can go away and work on. That’s what the Adventurer Experience is built for. - Getting out of your usual environment (the Cotswolds) - Stripping away the noise (no phones or tech zapping your brainpower) - Having real conversations with men who get it (solid ambitious guys) - Eating great food and escaping the hamster wheel for a few days And, amongst other things... ...actually confronting the decisions you’ve been putting off. If you know, deep down, there’s something you’ve been avoiding… A difficult conversation at work or at home Maybe a decision about a job, a business, or a marriage on the rocks. or a change in direction from boredom to something more exciting Then this isn’t just a weekend away. It can be a line in the sand moment for you. Join us in May. Come and meet me, Rick, and a group of solid men who are willing to face any fears deep inside that have been holding them back... ...and then building a plan to take action instead of letting it fester. On Friday I'm going to plot out exactly what The Adventurer Experience looks like and feels like for you. And I'll share with you one big takeaway one of the guys had from a previous experience it might just light a fire in you. Anthony Whole Man Academy |
Anthony Astbury
The Whole Man Journal is three short reads a week — Monday, Wednesday, Friday. On your energy and your edge, going further in business, knowing where you're headed, and the men you surround yourself with. For men aged 35 to 60 with serious ambitions and the belief their best years are still ahead. From the Whole Man Academy, running men's events across the UK since 2018. Add your email below and join the men already reading.
Hmmm... Most of the advice aimed at 'ambitious' men says roughly the same thing. Keep pushing for the result you want. Never stop pursuing you dreams. Rest when you’re dead, Mofo. And most of the time, I agree with it to some extent. I mean... I love it when a guy has an attitude where he makes things happen, he is prepared to work hard, to put in the hours to create the opportunities he needs. There's loads of those guys in the membership, either Spark, Network, or Nexus. So I'm all for...
Be honest. Do you love what you do for your career? In fact.. for some...another question would be... ...do you even LIKE it? Now I reckon... ...about 5% will say they love what they do. ...maybe 30% will 'like' what they do ...and the rest are in the lower categories of 'it's ok'. or ' I can't stand it'. I've been in all those categories before, so wherever you stand I'm with you. But on Friday I saw a great example of something we should all be impressed with. I was at the Horse of the year...
I have a deep rooted memory of being out in Turkey on holiday as a kid. My family at some old town market haggling with men over a handbag or wallet or something. They give you some nice Turkish tea and you settle in for a short bartering session that seemed to last for hours. All for the sake of some leather and a few quid discount. For some reason I just hated it. On reflection it's because, as a kid you have zero interest in pissing about in some little market that smells like a camels....