Jeff Weigh Jeff Weigh

On this episode I share my interview with Greg Searle, Bronze medal winner in London 2012 twenty years after winning a Gold medal in Barcelona 1992 and we talk about the lessons learned through enthusiasm and wisdom.

On work-life balance Greg says;

I've managed to get myself at the age of 46 where I've been passionate about sporting goals, passionate about business goals and through experience I've got perspective. I've got a reasonable balance in my life.

Background

At 20 he won an Olympic Gold medal and 4 years later he won an Olympic Bronze medal. By the time the next Olympics came round Greg was newly married, with his wife expecting their first child. A home owner with work responsibilities as well; Greg's focus and energy towards rowing had shifted as result. Because of these competing things got in the way and he finished in fourth position at his 3rd Olympics.

Similarly at 28 he believed he was capable of better and probably at the peak of his physical powers.

Peak performance
Greg is the founder of the company 2040 inspiring peak performance in teams and individuals. This is achieved through sharing the behaviours required to bring the 'enthusiasm' he had at 20 coupled to the 'wisdom' he had at 40. He's also the Chief Innovation Officer for Keys Business a concierge company.

London 2012;

I wanted to comeback and wanted to put Sydney 2000 right. This was an opportunity to do something I was really proud of. We agreed (my wife and I) that this would be an adventure that we'd share for the next 3 years.

Greg had a lot of interest from others at the first trials. He overcame the first hurdles and then got closer and closer to being invited into the team. His reception was largely warm. Over the course of time it didn't become much of a factor. He was 'old Greg' and the others were a bit younger!

Winning the bronze in 2012
Far easier to be comfortable with a bronze medal at 40 than to win a bronze aged 24 or indeed a 4th place at 28. Still initial disappointment.

They (the 8) went out to win. It was in Greg's words; something to be proud of.

Over the course of the next week, they celebrated and commiserated in different ways.

Final take-away
Keeping life in perspective and enjoying the present. Enjoy the moment as best as you can.

Find out more
As a result of the interview with Greg if you would like to start a conversation with him, you can find him on;

Twitter
LinkedIn

Furthermore if you liked this episode you can leave the show a rating and review on iTunes or the platform that you use to listen to podcasts.


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On this episode I share my interview with Garry Turner, Founder of the Listening Organisation  and the newly created 'Wellbeingchat' community, focused on courage and vulnerability.

On work-life balance Garry says;

Until about 18 months ago I would have believed that it was statement. I'm finding progressively that we try and keep them separate, when they're not. I see the term being out of date now. I prefer the term life-work quality.

Background

Garry talks very passionately and openly about mental health and his own challenges with this. His personal view is we've learned to be the man. Marketing plays a big part in this and even our partners at times encourage us to 'man up'.

He's an international sales manager on the one hand and on the other hand he has this deep rooted passionate to humanise things. As Garry puts it; his formal job, versus the passion with the Learning Organisation.

However, he was looking to leave his work organisation about 4-5 years ago. He had the realisation that he wasn't growing. As a result of this he became really curious about what was going on around him.

In Garry's words;

These conversations allow you to reflect. He believed he could make a deep seated belief that he could make a change in his own organisation. He believes more of these conversations can happen if people are prepared to have courage and show vulnerability.

The Listening Organisation has evolved organically. It's centred around key pillars; purpose and values, trust, curiosity, listening and inclusion. The goal is to create 'safe spaces' where organisations can come together and get present.

People are also victims
It's easy to blame someone else. If we can just get present enough and understand where we are choosing to spend our time, it will allow us all to create so much more.

We are dealing transaction-ally with one another. By just being a little bit vulnerable to say we don't know, could be the difference between having transacting and transforming conversations.

In terms of work, as a minimum we should be able to enjoy what we do. To love what you do is a golden chalice; the aspiration.

Final take-away
You're already a 10/10; feel that and internalise that. Self care is not selfish; you can only be best for others if you're first for yourself.

Find out more
Now, if you enjoyed the interview with Garry then please do start a conversation with him on;

Twitter

If you liked this episode you can leave the show a rating and review on iTunes or the platform that you use to listen to podcasts.


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On this episode I share my interview with Leanne Davies, Founder of Run Mummy Run, the online community with 60,000 Facebook members focused on happier and healthier lives.

On work-life balance Leanne says;

It used to be the scales with the work on one side and life on the other. My work creeps into my life and my life creeps into my work. It's very different now.

Background

Leanne initially founded a Facebook group called Run Mummy Run. This was set up with 2 friends because they wanted to motivate each other if and when they couldn't always get to their running club. Further more, it was designed to fit around their lives as being mothers.

This has slowly grown from a few people.

Today (6 years later) they are now up to 60,000 runners! The group motivates people and as a result they meet up regularly. Similarly they do Park run and run races together.

In Leanne's words;

They provide the platform for women to lead happier and healthier lives.

The community is built on togetherness and bonding. Consequently, 6 years on she still pinches herself by how much it's grown and how much people want to interact and support one another.

Doing something you love and enjoy
It's really important and Leanne feels ever so grateful to be able to do that.

Run Mummy Run has evolved from being a hobby to becoming her passion. She's found her thing and Leanne says it doesn't feel like a job at all.

Leanne's passion comes from her dad and she's been supported by her mum and husband as well.

The bigger the community grows, the more energy and effort it takes to sustain it. At the heart of this growth continues to be the aim of encouraging more women to live healthier and happier lives.

Final take-away
If you don't have that work-life balance it doesn't matter, as long as you're happy.

Find out more
Now, if you enjoyed the interview with Leanne then please do start a conversation with her on;

Twitter
Instagram
Facebook

Website

If you liked this episode you can leave the show a rating and review on iTunes or the platform that you use to listen to podcasts.


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On this episode I share my interview with Mark Whittle, host of the Take Fl1ght Podcast & Founder of Take Fl1ght and we explore how Mark came to put contribution at the forefront of what he was doing.

On work-life balance Mark says;

Everybody is very very different. Before we have an opinion on it, we have to define what work is and what life is. It's difficult to find balance and I don't think it exists.

Background

Mark created Take Fl1ght on the back of a real low point in his life. Stressed and anxious to close a big sales deal, he had a 'moment' on his walk from the tube station that day. Passing a number of homeless people he began to question his own life. As a result he decided that he was going to put contribution at the forefront of what he was doing.

The podcast is focused on drawing out the secrets to success that his guests have discovered along their own personal journey's. Whether that be professional athletes, entrepreneurs, business founders or lifestyle specialists.

The main goal of the podcast being to inspire listeners to take action towards achieving their own goals. Determined to normalise his guests as real people, Mark puts his sales skills experience to good use and is brilliant at interviewing each of his guests.

Focus on others
Determined and passionate about growing and developing, Mark continues to interview inspirational guests who's stories need to be shared.

Mark openly admits that he's a very different person today. He's changing and learning all the time. As he's got older his motivation has focused on bettering himself.

Creating the Take Fl1ght podcast has been the best thing he has done in his life. The opportunity to speak to amazing people in a positive, uplifting way is incredible.

Final take-away
There's no such thing as balance. Find those things that you enjoy in life and fit them in as much as you can.

Find out more
Now, if you enjoyed the interview with Mark then please do start a conversation with him on;
Instagram
Website

If you liked this episode you can leave the show a rating and review on iTunes or the platform that you use to listen to podcasts.


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On this episode I share my interview with Sarah Williams, host of the Tough Girl Podcast & Founder of Tough Girl Challenges and we explore how Sarah came to create something that is 'tough and feminine'.

Recognised by the Guardian in 2018 as one of the top 10 most inspiring contemporary female adventurers, Sarah epitomises everything that Tough Girl is all about.

On work-life balance Sarah says;

Work-life balance is this wonderful dream and these fabulous words which get banded about and is something that I massively struggle with as I don't really have it. Sometimes I like to think I have it but generally I go from one extreme to the other.

Background

Sarah has an on-line brand called Tough Girl Challenges which is all about motivating and inspiring women and girls. Encouraging them to dream big, to live their life to the fullest as well as to travel, to explore, to get fit and to go on adventures.

She does this through a number of ways including; having a blog, a podcast, writing books and part of her mission is to increase the number of female role models in the media.

Since setting up Tough Challenges in 2014, Sarah has regularly stepped outside of her own comfort zone. She has taken on a number of her own challenges including; running the Marathon des Sables, hiking the Appalachian Trail in addition to cycling the Pacific Coast Highway and the Baja Divide.

Purpose
The more women that go out there and complete challenges; this will have a knock on effect on other areas in society. The ripple effect will be huge and we will start to see a better balance in everything from politics to films, sport and coverage.

Above all; it's important for women to see it to believe it.

Sarah loves interviewing other women and sharing their stories for the Tough Girl Podcast. These women are completing inspirational challenges and therefore they are going to increase the number of female role models in the media.

Tough and feminine is a thread that runs through our discussion which Sarah is hugely passionate about. Challenging some of societies models, norms and expectations that we've previously been encouraged to believe.

Final take-away
Write it down. Everything that you want to achieve in your life; take 1o minutes to write down those things. be proactive and start planning your life.

Find out more
Now, if you enjoyed the interview with Sarah then please do start a conversation with her on;

Twitter - https://twitter.com/_tough_girl
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/toughgirlchallenges/
Website - https://www.toughgirlchallenges.com/

If you liked this episode you can leave the show a rating and review on iTunes or the platform that you use to listen to podcasts.


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On this episode I interview with Phil White, co-author of several brilliant books including Unplugged with Andy Galpin & Brian McKenzie, Game Changer with Fergus Connolly, 17 hour fast with Dr Frank Merritt - challenging some of our assumptions.

Background

Phil was a guest on the show in Series 1 (episode 5) and we pick up where we left off last time; talking about technology and social media and the impact that it's having on our mental health.

Having taken a 30 day sabbatical from all social media as an experiment whilst working alongside Kenny Kane, Phil has found it hard to pick up social media again and re-adjust to having that back as part of his life.

During the 30 day period he found himself challenging some assumptions and questioning the value and purpose of posting stuff on social media at all.

Discovery
One of the things that Phil has been able to rediscover is the art of what he calls; long form conversation. Conversation whereby you are looking the other person in the eye, gauging response and observing body language as well.

Ask yourself; what is it taking you away from?

This is beautifully highlighted and illustrated by the 'Device free dinner' Campaign in which Will Ferrell is the star.

What Phil keeps seeing and coming back to is 'long form'. Magazines that he writes for have shifted their focus from short articles or hacks to now wanting more journal type articles.

He says;

One of the reasons that podcasts like this are so popular and some of those in the US are massively popular like Tim Ferris and Joe Rogan is that people love them. They love them because they take the place of conversation.

Final take-away
Take a daily walk. 20-30 minutes ideally in nature.

Find out more
Now, if you enjoyed the interview with Phil then please do start a conversation with him on;

Twitter

Instagram

You can also find more details on their website 

If you liked this episode then please do leave the show a rating and review on iTunes or the platform that you use to listen to podcasts.


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