E125 - Ash Dykes: How to survive and thrive - lessons from near-death.

Extreme athlete and adventurer Ash Dykes is a three-time world-first record holder and motivational speaker. Ash was the first person to hike the entire length of the longest river in the world - the Yangtze River, which took a year to complete, the first to walk the entire length of Madagascar and the first to hike across Mongolia.

Ash has an unbelievably infectious passion for adventure and an incredible ability to inspire. A self-taught explorer, this podcast celebrates his 'can-do' attitude and brings out the key lessons he's learnt from surviving in some of the most extreme locations on earth and multiple near-death experiences.

This episode truly celebrates resilience, the power of the human mind and what we are all capable of.

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### Section 1: Introduction to Ash Dykes and the Podcast's Theme

* Ash Dykes is an extreme athlete, adventurer, and motivational speaker.
* He holds three world records for his remarkable feats, including being the first person to hike the entire length of the Yangtze River, walk across Madagascar, and hike across Mongolia.
* The podcast celebrates Ash's "can-do" attitude and highlights the lessons he's learned from surviving in extreme locations and facing near-death experiences.
* The episode focuses on resilience, the power of the human mind, and the potential within each individual.

### Section 2: Ash's Journey and the Importance of Embracing Challenges

* Ash emphasizes the transformative power of embracing challenges and pushing oneself beyond perceived limits.
* He shares an anecdote where he found himself in a life-threatening situation during an expedition, contemplating the possibility of death.
* To overcome his negative mindset, Ash focused on the four days he believed he could survive and visualized himself walking to the nearest community for assistance.
* He highlights the importance of setting achievable goals and breaking them down into smaller, manageable steps.

### Section 3: The Significance of the Journey over the Destination

* Ash emphasizes that the journey itself holds more value than the destination.
* He reflects on his previous expeditions and notes that crossing the finish line is not the most memorable aspect.
* The highlights often come from the experiences, challenges, and connections made along the way.

### Section 4: Preparing for the Unexpected and Anticipating Worst-case Scenarios

* Ash stresses the importance of preparing for the worst-case scenario to minimize surprises and maintain a proactive mindset.
* He believes that anticipating potential challenges allows him to approach them calmly and strategically rather than reacting out of fear or panic.

### Section 5: Ash's Unconventional Path to Adventure and Self-Discovery

* Ash shares his decision to not attend university or pursue a traditional job.
* He explains that he wanted to save money, travel the world, and gain life experiences to discover his true passion.
* Ash emphasizes the value of real-world experiences in shaping one's path and finding fulfillment.

### Section 6: The Five Stages of the Dream: A Framework for Analyzing Ash's Adventures

* The podcast introduces the five stages of the dream model by Joseph Campbell: the dream stage, the leap stage, the fight stage, the climb stage, and the arrival stage.
* Ash's Yangtze River expedition is used as an example to illustrate each stage.

### Section 7: The Dream Stage: The Initial Inspiration for the Yangtze River Expedition

* Ash explains how his early adventurous spirit and desire to explore the world led him to conceive the idea of hiking the Yangtze River.
* He highlights the fascination he felt towards natural wonders and his drive to experience them firsthand.

### Section 8: The Leap Stage: Taking the First Step towards the Expedition

* Ash describes the extensive planning and preparation required for the Yangtze River expedition, including securing permits, visas, and assembling a team.
* He emphasizes the daunting nature of the challenge, given the river's length, altitude, and potential dangers.
* Ash shares his experience of a failed attempt to reach the source of the river, which delayed the expedition by two and a half months.

### Section 9: The Fight Stage: Overcoming Obstacles and Maintaining Belief

* Ash discusses the difficulties he faced during the expedition, including extreme weather conditions, challenging terrain, and health concerns.
* He highlights the importance of mental resilience and the ability to adapt to changing circumstances.
* Ash emphasizes the role of self-belief and confidence in overcoming obstacles, drawing from his previous experiences and meticulous preparation.

### Section 10: The Climb Stage: Progress and Building Momentum

* Ash describes the gradual progress he made during the expedition, despite the challenges he encountered.
* He highlights the importance of setting achievable goals and celebrating small victories along the way.
* Ash emphasizes the significance of teamwork and the support he received from his team members.

### Section 11: The Arrival Stage: Achieving the Goal and Reflecting on the Journey

* Ash reflects on the sense of accomplishment he felt upon completing the Yangtze River expedition.
* He highlights the importance of acknowledging and celebrating achievements, both big and small.
* Ash emphasizes the value of learning from the journey and using the experience to grow and develop as an individual.

### Section 12: The Power of Failure and the Importance of Self-Talk

* Ash discusses the role of failure in his journey, emphasizing that mistakes and setbacks are opportunities for learning and growth.
* He highlights the importance of embracing a positive mindset and avoiding self-doubt.
* Ash shares tips for managing negative self-talk and cultivating a more positive and empowering inner dialogue.

# Podcast Episode Summary:

## Introduction:
- Ash Dykes, an extreme athlete and adventurer, shares his insights on resilience, the power of the human mind, and the boundless capabilities within us.

## The Three Stages of an Expedition:
1. **The Preparation Stage:**
- Breaking down goals into manageable steps.
- Managing expectations to avoid overwhelming setbacks.

2. **The Messy Middle Stage:**
- Dealing with moments of doubt and fear.
- Focusing on what's possible and breaking down goals into smaller, achievable steps.

3. **The Arrival Stage:**
- Avoiding an outcome-based mindset and cherishing the process.
- Planning ahead while absorbing lessons from current experiences.

## Overcoming Adversity:
- Ash Dykes recounts his harrowing experience in the Gobi Desert, where dehydration and hallucinations led him to the brink of death.
- He emphasizes the importance of staying disciplined, maintaining a routine, and focusing on short-term goals during challenging times.

## The Power of Visualization:
- Ash Dykes advocates for visualization as a tool to prepare for and overcome obstacles.
- He suggests visualizing the challenges and hardships that may arise to mentally prepare for them.

## Coping with Loneliness:
- Ash Dykes highlights the importance of routine in combating loneliness.
- He recommends setting a daily routine, including physical activity, healthy eating, and personal goals, to maintain a sense of purpose and well-being.

## The Risks of an Outcome-Based Mindset:
- Ash Dykes cautions against living solely for the outcome, emphasizing the value of cherishing the journey and the experiences along the way.
- He encourages focusing on the process rather than solely on the end result.

## Planning Future Adventures:
- Ash Dykes reveals his approach to planning future adventures while still engaged in current ones.
- He explains how this approach motivates and pushes him to complete his current expedition.

## The Challenge of Securing Funding:
- Ash Dykes discusses the difficulties of securing funding for his expeditions.
- He mentions that he often self-funds his adventures due to the lack of financial support.

## Overcoming Funding Challenges:
- Ash Dykes emphasizes the importance of resilience and persistence in overcoming funding challenges.
- He shares an anecdote about announcing his Yangtze River expedition to the world without having the necessary visa, permits, or funding, as a way to motivate his team and gain support.

## Conclusion:
- Ash Dykes' podcast episode serves as an inspiring reminder of the resilience, determination, and mental fortitude required to overcome challenges and achieve extraordinary feats.

# Podcast Episode Summary: Achieving High Performance through Resilience and Optimism

**Guest:** Ash Dykes, Three-time World-Record Holder and Motivational Speaker

**Key Points:**

1. **Embrace Optimism:** Dykes emphasizes the power of optimism in overcoming challenges and achieving goals. He believes that focusing on the positive aspects and solutions can significantly impact one's mindset and actions.

2. **Break Down Daunting Tasks:** Dykes suggests breaking down large and daunting tasks into smaller, manageable steps. This approach helps individuals focus on achievable goals and maintain motivation throughout the process.

3. **Cultivate Enthusiasm, Kindness, and Loyalty:** Dykes highlights the importance of enthusiasm, kindness, and loyalty in building strong teams and fostering a positive work environment. He believes that these qualities create a supportive atmosphere where individuals can thrive and achieve their full potential.

4. **Embrace Your Legacy:** Dykes encourages individuals to consider the legacy they want to leave behind. He believes that focusing on making a positive impact and helping others can bring a sense of purpose and fulfillment to one's life.

5. **Enjoy the Process and Stay Disciplined:** Dykes emphasizes the importance of enjoying the journey towards achieving goals while maintaining discipline and determination. He believes that embracing the process and staying committed to the grind can lead to eventual success.

6. **Use Quick-Fire Questions for Self-Reflection:** Dykes recommends using quick-fire questions to reflect on one's actions and motivations. These questions can help individuals stay focused, make informed decisions, and overcome challenges.

7. **Prioritize Family and Personal Well-being:** A listener named Sadie shares how the podcast helped her refocus on her priorities, including family time and her own well-being. She emphasizes the importance of setting boundaries and making time for self-care to prevent burnout and maintain a healthy balance in life.

8. **The Power of Positive Thinking:** Nim's story, featured in Episode 32 of the podcast, exemplifies the impact of positive thinking. Despite facing adversity, Nim maintained a positive outlook and turned a negative situation into an opportunity for growth.

**Overall Message:**
The podcast highlights the importance of resilience, optimism, and a positive mindset in achieving high performance. It emphasizes the value of breaking down challenges, cultivating positive qualities, embracing the journey, and prioritizing personal well-being. The episode also showcases the transformative power of positive thinking and the impact it can have on individuals and teams.

[00:00.000 -> 00:07.360] Hi there, I'm Jay Comfrey and you're listening to High Performance, a gift to you for free
[00:07.360 -> 00:08.900] every single week.
[00:08.900 -> 00:13.980] This podcast reminds you that it's within your ambition, your purpose, your story.
[00:13.980 -> 00:15.560] It's already within.
[00:15.560 -> 00:19.120] We just help you unlock it by turning the lived experiences of the planet's highest
[00:19.120 -> 00:21.380] performers into your life lessons.
[00:21.380 -> 00:27.400] So right now, allow myself and Professor Damien Hughes, an expert in organizational psychology,
[00:27.400 -> 00:31.160] to speak to the greatest leaders, thinkers, sports stars and entrepreneurs on the planet
[00:31.160 -> 00:33.440] so they can be your teacher.
[00:33.440 -> 00:36.960] Remember this podcast isn't about high achievement or high success.
[00:36.960 -> 00:42.400] It's about high happiness, high self-worth and taking you closer to a life of fulfillment,
[00:42.400 -> 00:44.400] empathy and understanding.
[00:44.400 -> 00:49.320] And today the stories and the lessons are amazing.
[00:49.320 -> 00:51.920] This awaits you.
[00:51.920 -> 00:54.600] I found myself very much on the negative side
[00:54.600 -> 00:57.840] and almost accepting that I might die.
[00:57.840 -> 01:00.160] And I think to flip that, again,
[01:00.160 -> 01:01.760] I focused on what I could do.
[01:01.760 -> 01:03.120] I focused on those four days
[01:03.120 -> 01:04.280] that I believe I can stay alive.
[01:04.280 -> 01:07.620] I believe I can walk to that next community which was guaranteed as confirmed
[01:07.620 -> 01:08.420] Not only water source
[01:08.420 -> 01:15.440] But a community of people and I still had four remaining days left and I'm a big believer of the law of attraction
[01:15.980 -> 01:18.140] Visualization, but I couldn't visualize four days
[01:18.140 -> 01:22.000] I was in agony, but I could visualize a hundred meters and again
[01:22.000 -> 01:24.800] That's when the break in the goals that I could see a hundred meters
[01:24.840 -> 01:25.240] So there was no reason why I couldn't get her from out of my trailer But I could visualize 100 meters. And again, that's when the break in the goals that I could see 100 meters.
[01:25.240 -> 01:27.240] So there was no reason why I couldn't get her
[01:27.240 -> 01:30.080] from out of my trailer, strap my four point harness on,
[01:30.080 -> 01:32.880] walk for 100, maybe 200 meters if I was lucky,
[01:32.880 -> 01:35.440] and then rest under the trailer again.
[01:35.440 -> 01:38.120] The journey is far more important than the destination
[01:38.120 -> 01:41.160] because when I look back to these previous expeditions,
[01:41.160 -> 01:42.640] it's never crossing the finish line
[01:42.640 -> 01:43.840] that has been the highlight.
[01:43.840 -> 01:47.080] You know, there's been a million highlights in between the start
[01:47.080 -> 01:51.560] and the finish that stand out much more than crossing that finish line. If I'm
[01:51.560 -> 01:54.520] thinking of worst-case scenario and worst-case was unfortunately bound to
[01:54.520 -> 01:59.440] happen, it won't approach me by surprise which will send me into flight rather
[01:59.440 -> 02:04.160] than fight. It comes as something I anticipated, I expected, so now I've got
[02:04.160 -> 02:06.200] to just crack on and get through it. I
[02:06.840 -> 02:08.840] Told my parents I wasn't going to university
[02:09.400 -> 02:15.960] I didn't want to find a job either here that I just wanted to save them like money with my current job and then eventually
[02:16.120 -> 02:17.760] traveled the world
[02:17.760 -> 02:21.080] No real plan, but I knew that that with that life experience
[02:21.080 -> 02:26.380] I would find my passion somehow and know what I want to do rather than trying to force something upon myself
[02:28.120 -> 02:29.540] So this is
[02:29.540 -> 02:33.380] Adventurer Explorer ash Dykes. He has the most amazing story
[02:33.380 -> 02:38.660] You're about to hear it here on high performance and I saw a quote this week that just absolutely resonated with me
[02:38.660 -> 02:42.700] I shared it on my on my LinkedIn page and it was a smooth sea
[02:43.280 -> 02:45.320] Never created a
[02:50.020 -> 02:54.120] Skillful mariner and I think that plays really nicely into this conversation with ash as you also know I love listening to the words that the Stoics used to share with us a podcast
[02:54.120 -> 02:58.660] I would highly recommend to you is the daily stoic and they spoke a few weeks ago about who's in charge
[02:58.660 -> 03:01.200] Is it the brave strong side of you?
[03:01.200 -> 03:08.480] Or is it the side that takes the easier path because push pushing and challenging and testing yourself daily is such an important aspect of
[03:08.480 -> 03:13.440] life otherwise how can you step up when that unexpected challenge appears when
[03:13.440 -> 03:20.000] life is going to be difficult test yourself to prepare for the tests become
[03:20.000 -> 03:24.280] the person who can do it you can't do things that are scary unless you've
[03:24.280 -> 03:28.680] practiced them and the person who scares themselves every single day naturally
[03:28.680 -> 03:33.880] becomes more fearless. The person who fails regularly will become immune from
[03:33.880 -> 03:38.960] being derailed by failure. The person who pushes past doubt regularly learns to
[03:38.960 -> 03:43.680] doubt less. So this episode really is all about the power of preparing. It's all
[03:43.680 -> 03:46.240] about the importance of struggling and failing. It's all about the importance of struggling and failing
[03:46.240 -> 03:49.000] It's all about finding your limits and pushing through them
[03:49.000 -> 03:53.600] So you realize that that was actually never your limit in the first place. You're gonna love this
[03:53.740 -> 04:00.340] Don't forget you can also watch the interview on our YouTube channel and you can subscribe for free to our club
[04:00.520 -> 04:07.260] Just go to the high performance podcast comm and join the tens of thousands of people who are members of the high performance circle
[04:07.260 -> 04:10.280] It's a brilliant episode. You're gonna get so much from this
[04:10.280 -> 04:14.700] I'd love to hear what you think ping me a message afterwards on Instagram or LinkedIn or wherever you follow us
[04:14.880 -> 04:21.120] But right now here is your moment today to get closer to your version of high performance
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[07:14.280 -> 07:16.720] What do you believe to be high performance?
[07:16.720 -> 07:24.120] High performance. It's a good question. I think it's working to a certain level and
[07:24.120 -> 07:26.240] keeping that consistency. So there's many people who jump up to a certain level and keeping that consistency.
[07:26.240 -> 07:28.500] So there's many people who jump up to a certain level
[07:28.500 -> 07:31.840] who perform highly for a day, two weeks, three weeks,
[07:31.840 -> 07:34.520] but then they can let it slip and dwell on the success
[07:34.520 -> 07:36.320] or the achievement that they've just achieved.
[07:36.320 -> 07:39.000] I think high performance is achieving something
[07:39.000 -> 07:42.260] and not dwelling on that, but staying consistent,
[07:42.260 -> 07:44.760] staying disciplined and keeping going.
[07:44.760 -> 07:47.560] And a lot of people I think do have that consistency to keep going but there's
[07:47.560 -> 07:51.960] many people who who let it drift so I think it's something we all have but we
[07:51.960 -> 07:58.000] we drop off every now and then you know so how do you marry that up with what
[07:58.000 -> 08:01.920] you do because you've got these amazing adventures yeah they might last weeks
[08:01.920 -> 08:07.080] or months but then you're home and then you're looking for more funding or you're planning in the next trip
[08:07.080 -> 08:14.440] Or you're doing loads of media. Does the way you live your life differ apart from the obvious differ when you're here?
[08:14.640 -> 08:20.600] To when you're out on your expeditions or is your consistency and an overall approach to life? And if so, what is that?
[08:20.720 -> 08:27.960] Yeah, it does differ especially towards the early adventures adventures, where it kind of be reckless, no funding, no budget,
[08:27.960 -> 08:30.100] not even posting or promoting on social media,
[08:30.100 -> 08:32.120] just doing it for the pure love and passion
[08:32.120 -> 08:34.080] of taking on a cool adventure.
[08:34.080 -> 08:36.240] But then as that kind of built,
[08:36.240 -> 08:38.980] and I needed to now start to promote these expeditions
[08:38.980 -> 08:40.680] and adventures, because that's what you need to do
[08:40.680 -> 08:44.000] to try to follow your passion and make a career of it,
[08:44.000 -> 08:46.000] the whole sort of ball game changed.
[08:46.000 -> 08:47.440] And when I then came back home,
[08:47.440 -> 08:51.640] I wasn't kicking my heels and planning the next straightway.
[08:51.640 -> 08:53.880] I had like, it was 50% adventure.
[08:53.880 -> 08:54.840] And then when I got back home,
[08:54.840 -> 08:57.400] it was busy with the 50% of business.
[08:57.400 -> 08:58.280] And you're right, you know,
[08:58.280 -> 09:00.680] with the logistics and finding funding
[09:00.680 -> 09:03.480] and putting the next big expedition together,
[09:03.480 -> 09:06.380] which requires immense teamwork as well, you know
[09:06.380 -> 09:12.460] So it has changed dramatically, but now when I return I stay busy for the next big thing
[09:13.080 -> 09:15.540] so I was thinking that a really
[09:16.060 -> 09:21.480] helpful way for our listeners on this ashes is to share a model that we've used in the past on the
[09:21.820 -> 09:25.840] On the podcast from the famous sociologist, Joseph Campbell,
[09:25.840 -> 09:29.360] talks about the call to adventure, the hero's journey.
[09:29.360 -> 09:32.560] And a really nice way we explain it is five stages
[09:32.560 -> 09:36.800] of the dream stage, where you come up with the ambition,
[09:36.800 -> 09:39.440] the leap stage of actually making it happen,
[09:39.440 -> 09:42.080] the fight stage where you get stuck in the middle of it,
[09:42.080 -> 09:43.760] the climb where you see progress,
[09:43.760 -> 09:46.200] and then finally the arrival stage.
[09:46.200 -> 09:51.320] Now given some of the amazing adventures that you've been on, I was thinking it'd be helpful
[09:51.320 -> 09:56.240] to say take the adventure you did on the Yangtze River and look at it through that lens of
[09:56.240 -> 09:57.400] those five stages.
[09:57.400 -> 10:02.920] So if we can start with the dream stage, where on earth do you get an idea to go along the
[10:02.920 -> 10:04.920] world's longest river from?
[10:04.920 -> 10:08.720] It's such a big story to be honest, I think I'd probably have to take you back to when
[10:08.720 -> 10:12.040] I first started traveling all together.
[10:12.040 -> 10:15.320] You know, I come from a normal background, there's no military background, there's no
[10:15.320 -> 10:18.000] university degree, no financial background.
[10:18.000 -> 10:23.800] I just worked multiple jobs in Wales, fish and chip shop, as a waiter, as a lifeguard,
[10:23.800 -> 10:24.800] you name it.
[10:24.800 -> 10:26.600] I sold my little car which was like a Renault Clio.
[10:26.900 -> 10:31.400] I bought myself a bicycle cycle to and from work every day grind and about
[10:31.400 -> 10:36.200] 240 hours a month to save up the funds that I needed to head off traveling
[10:36.900 -> 10:41.300] and it wasn't a lot but when I set out for traveling I would say that's when
[10:41.300 -> 10:46.380] I really started to find my niche and passion for adventure.
[10:46.380 -> 10:51.160] I was doing reckless and often dangerous early adventures.
[10:51.160 -> 10:54.220] Like crossing borders illegally with no visa,
[10:54.220 -> 10:56.460] you know, from purchasing a 10 pound bicycle,
[10:56.460 -> 10:57.780] cause that's all we could afford
[10:57.780 -> 11:01.060] and cycling the entire length of Cambodia and Vietnam
[11:01.060 -> 11:06.640] with no pump, with no puncture repair kit, with no map, a tent that wasn't waterproof.
[11:06.640 -> 11:08.000] It was just reckless stuff.
[11:08.000 -> 11:09.880] You know, we were living off noodles.
[11:09.880 -> 11:11.920] We then learned how to survive in the jungle
[11:11.920 -> 11:13.400] with the Burmese Hill tribe.
[11:13.400 -> 11:15.520] And that's where we actually utilized the jungle
[11:15.520 -> 11:18.720] and crossed from Thailand into Myanmar in 2010,
[11:18.720 -> 11:20.720] when it's shut down, it's illegal for Westerners to visit.
[11:20.720 -> 11:22.160] And you say we, who?
[11:22.160 -> 11:24.800] Me and my best mate, Matt Norman,
[11:24.800 -> 11:27.000] we both set off together from North Wales
[11:27.000 -> 11:33.160] and started these early adventures with one another and this kind of led me on to take
[11:33.160 -> 11:37.600] different sort of adventures, tame adventures, adventures that didn't require much planning
[11:37.600 -> 11:42.820] or much funding at all. We kind of just got sick of being on the tourist route, sharing the same
[11:42.820 -> 11:48.160] photo stories and experiences and we kind of wanted to create our own unique experiences
[11:48.160 -> 11:49.320] and stories.
[11:49.320 -> 11:51.920] I think it was because initially when I was back home
[11:51.920 -> 11:53.120] and as a youngster,
[11:53.120 -> 11:55.800] I would hear of people's stories about the world traveling
[11:55.800 -> 11:57.080] and I'd be fascinated.
[11:57.080 -> 11:59.480] I'd watch shows like the David Attenborough program
[11:59.480 -> 12:01.240] and I didn't want to watch on TV.
[12:01.240 -> 12:03.320] I wanted to be out there amongst it.
[12:03.320 -> 12:05.440] I'd see images of the great wall of China or the Himalayas and I'd wanted to be out there amongst it, you know. I'd see images of the Great Wall of China
[12:05.440 -> 12:08.760] or the Himalayas and I'd want to be out there trekking them.
[12:08.760 -> 12:11.440] So I always had this big fascination of going out there
[12:11.440 -> 12:13.360] and exploring the world, not only the world,
[12:13.360 -> 12:14.600] and myself as well, you know,
[12:14.600 -> 12:18.400] seeing how I handle certain scenarios and situations.
[12:18.400 -> 12:21.000] And I think when I found myself on the tourist route,
[12:21.000 -> 12:22.640] I found that I wasn't getting that.
[12:22.640 -> 12:25.920] I wasn't integrating and conversing with the locals.
[12:25.920 -> 12:29.240] I wasn't seeing how they live out in Vietnam, for example,
[12:29.240 -> 12:31.360] because I was always on that tourist path.
[12:31.360 -> 12:34.080] So I was like, Matt, my friend, I was like,
[12:34.080 -> 12:36.840] Matt, we need to do something different.
[12:36.840 -> 12:38.480] You know, and I remember having this talk with him
[12:38.480 -> 12:40.720] on the Mekong Riverbank in Cambodia.
[12:40.720 -> 12:43.720] We were both sulking because we'd spent way too much money
[12:43.720 -> 12:44.640] than we anticipated.
[12:44.640 -> 12:47.280] As I said, it was a shoestring budget that we were on.
[12:47.280 -> 12:49.800] And I said, look, we need to get off this beaten track.
[12:49.800 -> 12:52.680] How about we get the most ridiculous looking bicycles
[12:52.680 -> 12:55.080] we can find and we cycle the entire length
[12:55.080 -> 12:56.400] of Cambodia and Vietnam.
[12:56.400 -> 12:58.980] And we were both 19, you know, late teenagers.
[12:58.980 -> 13:01.520] My friend laughed, you know, it sounds good, you know,
[13:01.520 -> 13:02.360] but what bikes?
[13:02.360 -> 13:04.800] And as he said that, we hear this sort of screeching
[13:04.800 -> 13:05.440] that was behind us
[13:05.440 -> 13:11.000] We turned round and there's this skinny small frail old lady cycling this ridiculous looking bicycle
[13:11.000 -> 13:15.760] But it looked like what we could afford so I said perfect. Look, it looks about five ten pound
[13:15.760 -> 13:18.860] We can we can do it, you know, let's get two of those and let's go
[13:18.880 -> 13:22.080] You know, this bike was made for going to work and back
[13:22.080 -> 13:26.560] It wasn't made to cycle over one,100 miles, an entire country.
[13:26.560 -> 13:28.160] See, but what fascinates me on that,
[13:28.160 -> 13:30.400] like I love it and I want to explore the adventure,
[13:30.400 -> 13:32.040] but where did you have a line then
[13:32.040 -> 13:35.520] between stubbornness and recklessness?
[13:35.520 -> 13:36.760] That's a very good question.
[13:36.760 -> 13:38.800] I think they were a good 50-50, you know,
[13:38.800 -> 13:40.600] I think I was stubborn, I didn't want to quit.
[13:40.600 -> 13:44.360] So I would go those extra few hours pushing myself.
[13:44.360 -> 13:45.560] And, you know I
[13:45.560 -> 13:49.360] remember once we we crossed the border we realized it was a long way back and
[13:49.360 -> 13:52.200] we I was like oh come on we'll be fine let's just keep going but the
[13:52.200 -> 13:55.320] authorities came after us and told us to go back to get a stamp they didn't
[13:55.320 -> 13:58.960] punish us or anything you know so I think you know it was reckless to a
[13:58.960 -> 14:02.500] certain degree like that you know where I just didn't really think of the
[14:02.500 -> 14:05.640] consequences I was just like I'm sure we'll find a way through
[14:05.640 -> 14:11.180] I'm sure everything will be okay, which I probably needed at that time. But if I still had that mentality now
[14:11.820 -> 14:13.660] I'd be locked up or dead
[14:13.660 -> 14:18.420] so I did have to change the the mentality and realize that actually a lot of
[14:18.840 -> 14:23.780] Teamwork is involved and you need to be attentive to the details in order to succeed on these much bigger
[14:24.020 -> 14:31.240] Expeditions which are a matter of life and death not necessarily completing or failing an adventure, you know, I applaud the optimism
[14:31.240 -> 14:34.080] I love the fact that you just thought things were gonna be okay
[14:34.760 -> 14:41.260] My little boy Sebastian isn't is adventure obsessed. I mentioned to him that I was talking to a real-life explorer and adventurers
[14:41.260 -> 14:45.760] He's only six his eyes lit up. Oh nice. We he's watching at Stafford all the time. Yeah
[14:45.760 -> 14:49.440] Yeah, he loves it. Every time we play a game and I'm like, what's the password for the game? He's like it's
[14:50.880 -> 14:58.380] So cool. What what should we be doing to make him have that mindset of optimism that he can do anything because
[14:58.920 -> 15:02.920] What we find in our experience is we joined by lots of guests that say oh as a youngster
[15:02.920 -> 15:04.520] I believed anything was possible as I got older
[15:04.520 -> 15:11.000] I realized that wasn't the case whereas you still seem to have the mindset of a six-year-old child that of course, it'll be fine
[15:11.000 -> 15:15.560] Yeah, we can do something wrong, but it'll all work out well in the end. Yeah. Yeah. What was it in your upbringing?
[15:15.560 -> 15:17.400] you know, I think
[15:17.400 -> 15:21.220] Credit goes to my parents. Of course. I'm not a parent myself, but seeing how they
[15:22.080 -> 15:25.260] Allowed me to grow up, they allowed me to take risks.
[15:25.260 -> 15:27.400] They also taught me that, you know,
[15:27.400 -> 15:28.560] if you want something in life,
[15:28.560 -> 15:30.260] you've got to work hard to achieve it.
[15:30.260 -> 15:31.400] We're not going to pass you anything
[15:31.400 -> 15:34.160] other than knowledge, support and encouragement.
[15:34.160 -> 15:35.600] And so they have always been there
[15:35.600 -> 15:37.100] and they've always been enthusiastic.
[15:37.100 -> 15:38.260] They've always been positive.
[15:38.260 -> 15:40.160] They've always been setting goals.
[15:40.160 -> 15:42.660] And I never forget when I first started
[15:42.660 -> 15:44.560] planning for my travels, you know,
[15:44.560 -> 15:47.460] I told my parents I wasn't going to university
[15:47.960 -> 15:53.680] I didn't want to find a job either here that I just wanted to save like money with my current job and
[15:53.800 -> 15:55.800] then eventually travel the world and
[15:56.300 -> 15:59.640] No real plan, but I knew that that with that life experience
[15:59.640 -> 16:04.920] I would find my passion somehow and know what I want to do rather than trying to force something upon myself
[16:04.920 -> 16:05.760] And you know, they could have flipped out on that and said it's a bad decision, but they supported it I would find my passion somehow and know what I want to do rather than trying to force something upon myself.
[16:05.760 -> 16:07.520] And they could have flipped out on that
[16:07.520 -> 16:10.120] and said it's a bad decision, but they supported it.
[16:10.120 -> 16:12.040] They were like, if that's what makes you happy,
[16:12.040 -> 16:13.300] then we're happy too.
[16:13.300 -> 16:15.720] And as long as you do it properly and it's not reckless,
[16:15.720 -> 16:18.880] they didn't know about most of the adventures to begin with,
[16:18.880 -> 16:20.840] then they support that.
[16:20.840 -> 16:23.660] And I remember my dad calling me outside,
[16:23.660 -> 16:29.120] it was a nice sunny day, we were on the table and he created this mind map and he taught me about breaking
[16:29.120 -> 16:32.700] down my goals, you know, focusing first on how you're going to get the finance, focusing
[16:32.700 -> 16:37.180] on selling your car to help with the finance, focus on, on getting a qualification that
[16:37.180 -> 16:41.300] would enable you to find work abroad so that you can top up the funds whilst traveling.
[16:41.300 -> 16:46.360] So I then became a scuba diver in the hope that I could find work as a scuba diving instructor when I'm traveling.
[16:46.360 -> 16:49.200] And so by my dad breaking all of these goals down,
[16:49.200 -> 16:50.720] he just made it seem so easy
[16:50.720 -> 16:53.960] because I was 16, 17 at the time.
[16:53.960 -> 16:57.680] And as I said, no sort of university education.
[16:57.680 -> 16:59.440] My parents didn't hand me money.
[16:59.440 -> 17:01.200] I didn't have no military background.
[17:01.200 -> 17:03.240] I didn't know I was going to get into this adventure
[17:03.240 -> 17:04.720] sort of career first anyway,
[17:04.720 -> 17:08.840] but I did have the initial idea that I was interested in survival into going
[17:08.840 -> 17:14.000] into the wild and you know, when I put that initial plan together and broke down the goals,
[17:14.000 -> 17:17.640] it just made it seem so achievable. So I think that's what they did.
[17:17.640 -> 17:22.880] Speaker 2 So you describe in there the leap stage in
[17:22.880 -> 17:25.160] many ways, but take us through I
[17:25.880 -> 17:29.080] Keep going back to the young see everyone because that's the one that just intrigues me
[17:29.080 -> 17:32.640] Yeah, go but what was the leap stage then of where you've had this idea?
[17:32.720 -> 17:39.320] You've saved all the money up and then described that first experience of then actually going after
[17:39.840 -> 17:41.840] this call for adventure
[17:42.080 -> 17:47.340] Yeah, so for the Yangtze, I think it was definitely a track habit of the previous
[17:47.720 -> 17:51.280] experiences and adventures that I took on. I did a lot of growing up and
[17:52.300 -> 17:57.520] developed a lot from my early stage adventures where they were reckless and they were dangerous.
[17:57.520 -> 18:02.400] So now, you know after Mongolia, which was the first world record and Madagascar, which was the second,
[18:02.400 -> 18:07.880] I'd built up a lot of experience and when I saw the Yangtze for the first time in its might you know
[18:07.880 -> 18:13.760] this is a 4,000 mile journey that took me 352 days to complete at first it was
[18:13.760 -> 18:17.080] immensely daunting you know and the fact that it was China with its
[18:17.080 -> 18:23.360] sensitivities and the fact that I would be near Tibet over 5,000 meters altitude
[18:23.360 -> 18:26.840] in the west of China I just knew that this wouldn't be a case
[18:26.840 -> 18:30.680] of applying for a visa and then going on an adventure.
[18:30.680 -> 18:33.840] I knew that I would need certain permits,
[18:33.840 -> 18:36.680] fixes on the ground, visas.
[18:36.680 -> 18:38.920] I'd need protection from the authorities.
[18:38.920 -> 18:41.140] I'd need government proof.
[18:41.140 -> 18:42.980] So it was very daunting at first,
[18:42.980 -> 18:44.960] but as soon as I saw that, you know,
[18:44.960 -> 18:47.640] the Nile River has been walkedped. The Amazon has been warped
[18:47.640 -> 18:50.800] I always wanted to revisit China since 2010
[18:50.800 -> 18:54.740] That's when I first went there at age 19 sort of traveled through China for two weeks
[18:54.740 -> 18:57.760] I left and realized you know, I've barely touched the surface
[18:57.800 -> 19:01.480] So China was always there in my mind when I was 19, you know
[19:01.600 -> 19:07.920] But you've almost got this this huge daunting challenge that you're going to take on. Yeah. But you know it's that famous story
[19:07.920 -> 19:11.120] that a journey of a thousand miles begins with that first step. Yeah. What
[19:11.120 -> 19:17.640] was the first step that you took then to cover this 4,000 mile track? It's a
[19:17.640 -> 19:22.600] great that you say that actually because I think with this one people will be
[19:22.600 -> 19:26.800] shocked at just how intense it was. So with the
[19:26.800 -> 19:30.720] Yangtze it took two years to plan and let's skip all of the logistics and the
[19:30.720 -> 19:35.400] visas and permits. I finally I was in Yushu which was the closest city to the
[19:35.400 -> 19:39.720] source of the Yangtze River and from there I needed to get the team because
[19:39.720 -> 19:42.640] it was all about teamwork and getting to the source and again the right permits
[19:42.640 -> 19:48.000] and our first attempt to the Yangtze River source was a failed attempt and I
[19:48.000 -> 19:52.080] remember that now delayed me by two and a half months altogether which meant I
[19:52.080 -> 19:55.920] was now putting myself on my the new team that joined me at the source of
[19:55.920 -> 19:59.520] the Yangtze at the most dangerous time to be there's where wolves and bears are
[19:59.520 -> 20:04.520] actively on the hunt it drops to about minus 20 we're over 5,100 meters as I
[20:04.520 -> 20:05.040] said there
[20:05.040 -> 20:09.080] was snow blizzards and I had half of my team on the on the phone saying you know
[20:09.080 -> 20:12.960] it's two and a half month delayed maybe abandon it this year and try again next
[20:12.960 -> 20:17.000] year because you've missed the season and so taking that first step was
[20:17.000 -> 20:20.920] terrifying and I held a lot of fear you know even with the previous experience I
[20:20.920 -> 20:26.300] do hold fear I do hold doubt but I did believe in the previous experience that I had.
[20:26.300 -> 20:28.460] I believed that I could get myself and the team
[20:28.460 -> 20:30.940] off the mountains before the true depth of winter,
[20:30.940 -> 20:34.740] which would see the winter drop to minus 40 degrees Celsius.
[20:34.740 -> 20:37.340] And when I took that first step,
[20:37.340 -> 20:41.620] I realized that this was a step that took two and a half
[20:41.620 -> 20:44.060] months, regardless to the two years trying to plan it,
[20:44.060 -> 20:49.200] two and a half months to get to the source and start that first step and i'm already five members
[20:49.600 -> 20:53.040] Down from the last team that tried to join me. So it was daunting
[20:53.040 -> 20:59.280] You know, I was a couple of seconds into a four thousand mile journey. I had already lost five team members
[20:59.600 -> 21:03.120] I'd already been delayed two and a half months yet. I now had
[21:07.140 -> 21:11.040] been delayed two and a half months yet I now had 352 days left to get to the mouth of the Yangtze River where it pours out into Shanghai into the East
[21:11.040 -> 21:15.920] China Sea so it was it was majorly daunting. Two things I want to go a bit
[21:15.920 -> 21:21.180] deeper on with you yeah for me the fact that you still believed you could get
[21:21.180 -> 21:29.660] that team across that mountain and yes and also the fact that you had the fear and you still had the doubts. Yes. Let's go to the first one
[21:30.600 -> 21:37.180] Where did the self-belief come from? And how do you know the difference and how can I listen to understand the difference between overconfidence and
[21:38.240 -> 21:40.240] confidence I would say
[21:40.540 -> 21:42.000] experience
[21:42.000 -> 21:47.140] Experience is something that I didn't have when I started my early adventures and I made a lot of mistakes
[21:47.140 -> 21:51.600] I almost died of dehydration. I was held up at gunpoint by the military
[21:51.600 -> 21:55.960] I had to cross crocodile infested rivers on rafts that I didn't strap up properly
[21:56.480 -> 21:59.700] There were many mistakes along the way that I made but you know
[21:59.700 -> 22:03.200] I believe in that motto trying never to make the same mistake twice. I've always learned
[22:03.200 -> 22:06.700] I've never been dehydrated again. the next time I built that raft solidly
[22:06.700 -> 22:11.360] We weren't sinking and I've never been a head held it up at gunpoint touch wood
[22:11.800 -> 22:16.760] Since so I'm a big believer of building up the track habits start and small step by step
[22:16.760 -> 22:21.840] There's no way that I could have done the Yangtze if I hadn't done all of those previous adventures and expeditions before
[22:22.040 -> 22:27.000] So I would say it was having the confidence and belief of knowing how capable I am.
[22:27.000 -> 22:30.440] And that's where I was also able to eradicate fear.
[22:30.440 -> 22:32.760] I believe fear comes as a package deal.
[22:32.760 -> 22:33.960] It comes with doubt.
[22:33.960 -> 22:35.800] So as long as you're fearful of a task,
[22:35.800 -> 22:37.400] there's always going to be doubt there
[22:37.400 -> 22:38.760] that says you can't do it.
[22:38.760 -> 22:40.280] And the way to eradicate doubt,
[22:40.280 -> 22:42.120] because I believe you need fear, it keeps you alive.
[22:42.120 -> 22:44.480] And I'm still fearful of taking on many adventures
[22:44.480 -> 22:45.180] still to this day. But the one way I believe you need fear it keeps you alive and I'm still fearful of taking on many adventures still to this day
[22:45.240 -> 22:53.280] But the one way I believe you can eradicate doubt is through practice is experience is through preparation is through meticulous planning and attention to detail
[22:53.360 -> 22:59.760] And so that's what I've done with all these latest expeditions and another way of looking at those things being held up at gunpoint
[23:00.160 -> 23:05.060] Not building the raft properly almost dying of dehydration. Hmm. They're all failures, right? Yeah
[23:05.480 -> 23:12.040] So you are obviously someone that understands the power of failure and that as we say often on this podcast failure is a comma
[23:12.440 -> 23:14.080] Yes, exactly
[23:14.080 -> 23:15.560] Exactly 100% agree with that
[23:15.560 -> 23:21.560] It's always a stepping stone and I believe I get asked this question a lot is if I went back would I do anything differently?
[23:21.880 -> 23:25.280] And whilst I wouldn't want to face dehydration again,
[23:25.280 -> 23:26.960] I think I really needed to,
[23:26.960 -> 23:30.800] to understand how brutal and how harsh that scenario is
[23:30.800 -> 23:32.840] and to make sure I never do it again.
[23:32.840 -> 23:34.920] Cause I could be in a worse off environment
[23:34.920 -> 23:37.480] where I'm not fortunate enough to make it this time.
[23:37.480 -> 23:39.440] And so I wouldn't change anything
[23:39.440 -> 23:41.480] cause I believe each mistake that I made
[23:41.480 -> 23:44.400] was a lesson and a stepping stone
[23:44.400 -> 23:49.660] that gave me the confidence to pursue the Yangtze regardless of the rest of the team in China and the UK
[23:49.780 -> 23:51.780] Saying don't pursue it wait another year
[23:52.480 -> 23:59.140] So let's discuss a bit of self-talk then because as you begin that first step really is about
[23:59.660 -> 24:04.320] Self-talk you telling yourself everything you'll be okay, but you're also reminding yourself. There are some dangers ahead
[24:04.700 -> 24:06.360] You spend a lot of time on your own
[24:06.640 -> 24:08.640] Hmm, I'd love
[24:08.700 -> 24:12.840] For people to really understand the power of how we speak to ourselves. Yeah
[24:13.360 -> 24:16.320] What could you share with us that you've learned maybe?
[24:16.920 -> 24:19.360] Techniques and tips that people could take into their own lives
[24:19.720 -> 24:26.000] Yes, they struggle with telling themselves that things are gonna be okay people with a negative mindset or an anxious approach
[24:26.000 -> 24:33.400] I think trying to relate it back now to how I've overcome sort of negative talk because I have had it and I've had
[24:33.600 -> 24:36.900] Many naysayers as well. I've got a book called mission possible
[24:36.900 -> 24:41.380] And the reason it's called mission possible is in 2014 when I attempted the Mongolia
[24:41.380 -> 24:46.320] There were people and Navy soldiers who had attempted but failed were evacuated before or just after the halfway
[24:46.320 -> 24:51.080] Point and this did scare me, you know, I'm I was no soldier. I was 23
[24:51.080 -> 24:54.680] I was a master scuba diver an instructor and a Muay Thai fighter
[24:55.080 -> 25:00.080] Trying to fight to compete to earn money to pay for my rent in Thailand on an island
[25:00.080 -> 25:05.200] I'd never been to a desert and I wasn't military trained so to have someone say that was scary
[25:05.200 -> 25:10.240] So, you know, I approached more people and I asked them about this Mongolia trip on whether it can be done in
[25:10.240 -> 25:14.160] I say you hoovered up knowledge. Yeah, I hoovered up knowledge. Yeah majorly
[25:14.160 -> 25:19.320] I was speaking to those people on the ground who have been to Mongolia who have crossed the Gobi Desert by any means and
[25:19.720 -> 25:26.400] asked them for any tips any advice the dangers to look out for, what I need to prepare for.
[25:26.400 -> 25:29.660] And I pretty much got a big team that helped with this,
[25:29.660 -> 25:31.480] who put it all together and sent it over.
[25:31.480 -> 25:33.660] And I was a big believer at that time of,
[25:33.660 -> 25:34.960] you know, just because it hasn't been done
[25:34.960 -> 25:36.620] doesn't mean it can't be done.
[25:36.620 -> 25:39.520] And with the self-talk, what I did then was,
[25:39.520 -> 25:42.540] and I go back to when my dad taught me this,
[25:42.540 -> 25:44.920] is I broke the goals down majorly.
[25:44.920 -> 25:45.860] So whilst all of these
[25:45.860 -> 25:49.780] people were telling me that this Mongolia journey was impossible, I active I went to
[25:49.780 -> 25:54.720] the Royal Geographic Society teamed up there. I got the map workout and I looked at every
[25:54.720 -> 25:59.020] single one of those days. It was anticipated to take about a hundred days to cross Mongolia
[25:59.020 -> 26:06.600] solo and unsupported. And I looked at every single possible day and I searched actively for that impossible day
[26:07.000 -> 26:09.800] Not just put the whole expedition down as impossible
[26:09.800 -> 26:11.800] I was searching for if they're saying it's impossible
[26:12.160 -> 26:15.720] Which one of these days is the impossible day and how can I overcome that day?
[26:15.720 -> 26:17.320] And when I broke it down like that
[26:17.320 -> 26:22.440] I realized that every day was possible as long as I had the right food supply as long as I hit the right water points
[26:22.600 -> 26:29.140] Then there's nothing major enough that could that could stop me from achieving it. And so I think it was actively
[26:29.140 -> 26:35.560] breaking the goals down. And, you know, I think a lot of us can learn to manage our
[26:35.560 -> 26:41.280] expectations. And if we don't, the task in hand can be so overwhelming that you can just
[26:41.280 -> 26:44.940] put it away and change your whole mind because that almost happened to me where I just looked
[26:44.940 -> 26:45.080] into it was a safer country, more populated country to walk across. I was like Mongolia, Overwhelming that you can just put it away and change your whole mind because that almost happened to me where I just looked into
[26:45.080 -> 26:49.480] It was a safer country more populated country to walk across. I was like Mongolia. Who am I kidding?
[26:49.720 -> 26:56.700] Which brings us then into the third stage the fight stage on the messy middle the bit where you get too far in to go
[26:56.700 -> 27:02.920] Back, but you're not far enough to see the end yet. Yeah. So how do you deal with those moments when they occur?
[27:03.040 -> 27:05.280] Yeah, I've got a great answer for that actually
[27:05.560 -> 27:08.440] And as soon as he said that I just threw me back to the Gobi Desert
[27:08.640 -> 27:11.860] So I was hiking already three weeks over the Altai Mountains
[27:12.640 -> 27:18.400] Five weeks across the Gobi Desert and three weeks across the Mongolian steppe and there was a middle section of the Gobi Desert
[27:18.760 -> 27:22.080] Where I had now missed the point of backup
[27:22.080 -> 27:29.880] I was suffering with dehydration a water source was dry and the only option for me to survive was was to get up and keep
[27:29.880 -> 27:34.680] walking again I couldn't afford afford no evacuation so I guess the option
[27:34.680 -> 27:38.440] there was that I had no option physically it was either sorry you
[27:38.440 -> 27:41.920] couldn't afford the evacuation I couldn't afford no evacuation this was a
[27:41.920 -> 27:46.900] low-budget expedition and this was the world I suppose I've always assumed like if it's really bad
[27:46.900 -> 27:51.480] You can just ring the emergency services like we would in this country and say I'm gonna die here. Yeah
[27:51.480 -> 27:53.800] Yeah, where is it on the expeditions? You're on that isn't an option
[27:54.120 -> 28:00.900] It was on the latest to but on this one, but with Mongolia, yeah, my insurance was invalid. They don't support
[28:01.520 -> 28:05.240] Unsupported hikers or people going to Mongolia. You always have to be in the team
[28:05.240 -> 28:07.280] just because it's such a harsh environment.
[28:07.280 -> 28:09.920] And on top of that, I was pulling a trailer behind me,
[28:09.920 -> 28:11.840] carrying all provisions needed to survive.
[28:11.840 -> 28:14.960] And that was 120 kilograms or 18 stone.
[28:14.960 -> 28:17.560] And I was weak.
[28:17.560 -> 28:20.360] I was severely dehydrated.
[28:20.360 -> 28:23.280] I was suffering with heat stroke, which is usually fatal.
[28:23.280 -> 28:25.400] I could almost feel my organs drying up.
[28:25.400 -> 28:27.720] I was hallucinating, I was delirious.
[28:27.720 -> 28:29.840] And I remember I would have to hide under my trailer
[28:29.840 -> 28:31.600] because picture the Gobi desert, it's fast.
[28:31.600 -> 28:34.560] It's 40 degrees Celsius plus, there's no wind.
[28:34.560 -> 28:37.240] There's no shelter even from the clouds.
[28:37.240 -> 28:39.840] And my only protection was underneath my trailer
[28:39.840 -> 28:41.960] on the hard, rocky floor.
[28:41.960 -> 28:47.800] And it was a mix between gravel and soft sand. I remember I say miss the point of pickup because I
[28:48.000 -> 28:53.280] Had continued and there was a unconfirmed water source that was now dry, which was fine
[28:53.280 -> 28:57.160] you know I knew to carry enough water in my container to last me an
[28:57.440 -> 29:01.560] Unconfirmed water source because there was always going to be a confirmed water source coming next
[29:01.560 -> 29:03.800] We'd never like to unconfirmed water sources in a row
[29:04.080 -> 29:05.600] However in the Gobi desert,
[29:05.600 -> 29:07.400] you go through water a lot quicker
[29:07.400 -> 29:09.280] and I was a lot skinnier, I was a lot weaker,
[29:09.280 -> 29:10.920] and I was pulling this trailer
[29:10.920 -> 29:13.320] that was like pulling a concrete block through hell,
[29:13.320 -> 29:14.560] hiding under my trailer.
[29:14.560 -> 29:16.280] And it was at that point I realized
[29:16.280 -> 29:20.320] that I think I only have potentially three, four days
[29:20.320 -> 29:23.920] in me left because I was in such a bad, agonizing way.
[29:23.920 -> 29:26.760] How long had this gone on for this had got I had slipped into it
[29:26.760 -> 29:32.540] I think over the past two weeks, but I think it was probably longer because when I was in the Altai Mountains
[29:32.540 -> 29:33.520] And it was colder
[29:33.520 -> 29:37.340] I probably wasn't taking in as much fluid because it didn't feel like I needed to
[29:37.620 -> 29:40.960] Rookie error and at the point where I was underneath the trailer
[29:40.960 -> 29:44.040] I did have an agent in the capital in Ulaanbaatar
[29:44.800 -> 29:48.240] underneath the trailer. I did have an agent in the capital in Ulaanbaatar, but it would take him at least three to four days to find me if he found me in time
[29:48.240 -> 29:53.200] and another day or two to get me out of that that area and for me I didn't
[29:53.200 -> 29:57.480] believe I could survive five to six days. So how did you cope? I mean just as you
[29:57.480 -> 30:01.920] described it I can feel the panic rising up in me for you at this moment. Yeah. And we know you
[30:01.920 -> 30:09.380] survived. Yeah. But when you don't have that guarantee Like how did you deal with the panic the fear the terror that must have been engulfing you?
[30:09.380 -> 30:12.260] It's weird came gradually it hit me gradually
[30:12.260 -> 30:17.540] But when it hit me it hit me hard and I was thinking about family members. I was thinking about friends. I was
[30:18.540 -> 30:22.220] Kind of feeling sorry for myself at the beginning like not sorry for myself
[30:22.220 -> 30:27.640] But you know, I never like being that kind of person and I was that kind of person I was under my trailer
[30:27.640 -> 30:29.640] I was like just damn it. How did I go wrong?
[30:29.640 -> 30:34.600] you know, how do I get out of this scenario and I found myself very much on the negative side and
[30:34.960 -> 30:36.960] Almost accepting that I might I might die
[30:37.520 -> 30:42.840] And I think to flip that again. I focused on what I could do. I focused on those four days
[30:42.840 -> 30:46.080] I believe I can stay alive. I believe I can walk to that next community,
[30:46.080 -> 30:47.680] which was guaranteed, it's confirmed,
[30:47.680 -> 30:50.520] not only water source, but a community of people.
[30:50.520 -> 30:53.440] And I still had four remaining days left,
[30:53.440 -> 30:55.720] and I'm a big believer of the law of attraction,
[30:55.720 -> 30:58.320] visualization, but I couldn't visualize four days.
[30:58.320 -> 31:01.600] I was in agony, but I could visualize 100 meters.
[31:01.600 -> 31:03.320] And again, that's when the break in the goals,
[31:03.320 -> 31:05.200] that I could see a hundred meters.
[31:05.200 -> 31:07.120] So there was no reason why I couldn't get her
[31:07.120 -> 31:09.960] from my trailer, strap my four point harness on,
[31:09.960 -> 31:12.800] walk for 100, maybe 200 meters if I was lucky
[31:12.800 -> 31:14.600] and then rest under the trailer again.
[31:14.600 -> 31:17.920] And then I became really disciplined and routined.
[31:17.920 -> 31:19.920] I would rest sometimes for an hour under my trailer.
[31:19.920 -> 31:21.120] Whereas I nipped that in the bud
[31:21.120 -> 31:22.680] and rested for no more than five minutes
[31:22.680 -> 31:25.080] before I got up and continued
[31:27.080 -> 31:32.660] Bloody hell You know when you um when you started this story you went I've got a great story here. Yeah, but you didn't say was
[31:33.160 -> 31:35.600] I've got an awful story about yeah, right true
[31:35.760 -> 31:39.000] So when you get to the end of this and you survived and you come out the other side
[31:39.780 -> 31:50.220] Do you go that was pretty cool. That was kind of close. That was that was amazing I think maybe you do I didn't at first but now now I do now
[31:50.220 -> 31:52.040] I'm like, oh god because it's over, you know
[31:52.040 -> 31:55.860] Does it add then to your self-belief and your confidence that things will be okay?
[31:55.860 -> 32:02.200] It does because you start you start realizing and I think there's a lesson for everyone as well is how much I doubted myself
[32:02.200 -> 32:04.480] How much fear I had as I mentioned?
[32:04.940 -> 32:08.580] But since those expeditions, I've actually realized how capable I am
[32:09.240 -> 32:14.780] And I believe that is a message for everyone is that you're so much more capable than you give yourself credit for
[32:14.880 -> 32:16.440] There's so much that you can do
[32:16.440 -> 32:22.260] But just because you haven't built up the track habits or experienced it before a lot of people put the the self-talk
[32:22.260 -> 32:26.440] Which is usually negative put themselves off because you're talking a lot here about
[32:26.960 -> 32:28.960] mindset as opposed to
[32:29.160 -> 32:33.560] Necessarily physical capability. Now. I've seen an answer that you've given in the past of this
[32:33.560 -> 32:38.880] But I'd be interested in in how you'd apportion how much of your success is
[32:39.440 -> 32:47.280] Down to mindset as opposed to your physical capability. Yeah. Yeah, I always say it's 70% mindset and 30% physical.
[32:47.280 -> 32:49.240] You definitely need both,
[32:49.240 -> 32:52.520] but I think we all have a powerful mind, you know,
[32:52.520 -> 32:54.780] and we all have that instinct to survive.
[32:55.920 -> 32:57.360] And I believe that it's just covered
[32:57.360 -> 32:59.000] in a layer of dust for many people.
[32:59.000 -> 33:00.520] But when you're out there
[33:00.520 -> 33:02.040] and you're put into a scenario like that,
[33:02.040 -> 33:07.560] you realize just how far you can dig deep, you know, and you can pull yourself out of the gutter, pull yourself
[33:07.560 -> 33:13.700] out of scenarios like the Gobi.
[33:13.700 -> 33:19.000] As a person with a very deep voice, I'm hired all the time for advertising campaigns, but
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[33:49.520 -> 33:53.680] So, does that mean you should use ads on LinkedIn instead of hiring me,
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[33:56.400 -> 33:58.240] Yes. Yes, it does.
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[34:09.440 -> 34:11.720] That's linkedin.com slash results.
[34:11.720 -> 34:13.120] Terms and conditions apply.
[34:16.080 -> 34:18.280] On our podcast, we love to highlight businesses
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[35:52.960 -> 35:54.300] There's a real
[35:54.300 -> 35:59.020] Challenge though for people here because what you're saying is the place where you find that self-belief
[35:59.060 -> 36:02.340] Yeah, it's also the place where the self-doubt lives
[36:02.420 -> 36:02.900] Yeah
[36:02.900 -> 36:03.620] and
[36:03.620 -> 36:04.260] You know
[36:04.260 -> 36:05.200] I think that
[36:05.200 -> 36:09.120] Courage and fear live in the same place within us because we have to have the fear first
[36:09.120 -> 36:13.780] Because there's the courage that comes and pushes us through that. Yeah. Yeah, but there'll be people listening to this
[36:14.240 -> 36:18.320] They can't go to the place of fear. Yeah, do you know what I mean? It's true
[36:18.580 -> 36:20.280] So it's just how we can encourage
[36:20.280 -> 36:23.900] If someone comes to you and says I really want to be a and I want to be the next ash dikes
[36:23.900 -> 36:25.920] I really want to explore the world, but I'm just too scared
[36:26.040 -> 36:29.380] What do you say to them to get past the fear and find the courage?
[36:29.380 -> 36:37.240] Yeah, I've had that a lot and I say start local start local build up some experience start these adventures as I mentioned
[36:37.240 -> 36:38.080] You know before the Yangtze River
[36:38.080 -> 36:44.880] I was cycling across Vietnam or I was just hiking in the mountains for a day and I was building up that
[36:45.160 -> 36:49.520] Experience and where there was a one-day hike it became a week hike then a two-week hike
[36:49.520 -> 36:53.960] It wasn't a full year hike straight away. I built it up and eradicated the doubt
[36:54.760 -> 36:59.560] With that with that experience and that would always be my messages is start small
[36:59.560 -> 37:01.280] You don't need to go up here straight away
[37:01.280 -> 37:06.240] And I believe it's like with any career we're working towards you you can't jump up to the top of the ladder straight away.
[37:06.240 -> 37:07.400] You've got to start on the first step
[37:07.400 -> 37:08.640] and climb your way up that ladder.
[37:08.640 -> 37:09.520] It's good this Damien,
[37:09.520 -> 37:11.000] because if you want to have a six pack,
[37:11.000 -> 37:12.680] would you start by just eating better?
[37:12.680 -> 37:13.520] Yeah.
[37:13.520 -> 37:16.560] And if you want to build a billion pound business,
[37:16.560 -> 37:18.720] you start by setting up the business.
[37:18.720 -> 37:19.960] You don't go straight in at the top.
[37:19.960 -> 37:22.680] And I think, you know, people see the end goal too often.
[37:22.680 -> 37:24.640] And as Ash describes,
[37:24.640 -> 37:48.940] and I'm sure that there's plenty of research that's gone into this. Ond rwy'n credu, y gynulleidfawyr yw'r gollwg o'r ddiwedd, ac fel y mae Ash yn ei ddysgrifio, ac rwy'n siŵr y bydd yna lawer o ymchwil sydd wedi mynd i mewn i hyn, os ydyn ni'n rhannu pethau i'r mawr, y mawr elementau, y mawr steps, dwi ddim yn edrych ar y holl wal, dim ond yn gweld y brygau unigol. types of goals in there there's the outcome goal of going the whole length of the Yangtze River and feeling like you're inspiring people that are watching
[37:48.940 -> 37:52.700] you there's a process of measuring there's 4,000 miles and then there's the
[37:52.700 -> 37:57.160] process of going one mile and then doing another mile after that so it's about
[37:57.160 -> 38:00.940] breaking it down into those exactly yeah so when people talk about yeah like trust the
[38:00.940 -> 38:04.620] process yeah you're right that's where it sounds like your mindset yeah exactly
[38:04.620 -> 38:09.560] and that's why it was an interesting question that you asked at the start was what does high performance mean to you?
[38:09.560 -> 38:14.340] And that's why I said it's achieving something or working at a certain level, but keeping that consistency
[38:14.540 -> 38:19.620] It's like when I left the source of the Yangtze River and that was one day down. That's great
[38:19.620 -> 38:21.620] But I now need to keep going for another
[38:22.200 -> 38:23.720] 351 days to complete it
[38:23.720 -> 38:28.080] So it's not just having a good day of covering good miles. You need to be doing that every single day
[38:28.080 -> 38:31.320] I know you're doing that with six days to go. Are you still going one more day?
[38:31.880 -> 38:36.940] One more day or is the moment where you go? I would done. I've done it. I've completed it and maybe that's risky
[38:36.940 -> 38:38.920] I don't know. Yeah. Yeah, you're right. That's a good one
[38:38.920 -> 38:43.920] Yeah, no one's ever said that but you are a hundred percent right with that you get to a certain point in your mind again
[38:43.920 -> 38:45.240] This comes back to the mind,
[38:45.240 -> 38:47.520] where for example, after six months,
[38:47.520 -> 38:49.920] all of the dangers were behind me.
[38:49.920 -> 38:50.760] And then,
[38:50.760 -> 38:54.800] and then towards the second half of the Yangtze trip,
[38:54.800 -> 38:56.960] I was coming across more, more cities, you know,
[38:56.960 -> 39:01.440] I was following now a tarmac road and it became difficult
[39:01.440 -> 39:03.320] because after eight months,
[39:03.320 -> 39:06.160] when I've only got say two, three months left,
[39:06.160 -> 39:08.160] I knew that I had done it.
[39:08.160 -> 39:09.240] I knew that I completed it,
[39:09.240 -> 39:12.000] but I haven't completed it until I've smashed out
[39:12.000 -> 39:13.560] that tarmac road fully, you know?
[39:13.560 -> 39:14.400] Yeah.
[39:14.400 -> 39:15.220] See, cause this is stage four.
[39:15.220 -> 39:16.280] This is the climb bit now.
[39:16.280 -> 39:19.080] So now that you can like mountain climbers often say
[39:19.080 -> 39:22.360] the two most dangerous periods of climbing a mountain
[39:22.360 -> 39:23.480] are when you can see the peak
[39:23.480 -> 39:24.520] and when you've just left the peak.
[39:24.520 -> 39:25.040] Yeah, yeah, yeah. Cause you're in that relaxed state, you know you can the peak and when you've just left the peak. Yeah, yeah, yeah.
[39:25.040 -> 39:28.960] Because you're in that relaxed state, you know you can get there and then you've already been there.
[39:28.960 -> 39:30.800] So you relax standards.
[39:30.800 -> 39:33.400] So how do you deal with that?
[39:33.400 -> 39:38.880] Again, I think I keep that end goal in mind and I break it down day by day.
[39:38.880 -> 39:40.480] I try to enjoy the process.
[39:40.480 -> 39:45.920] And what I've learned from almost dying in the Gobi Desert is to not rush that process because bad things do happen
[39:46.240 -> 39:49.480] And in the Gobi Desert in Mongolia, I was trying to rush the process
[39:49.480 -> 39:55.680] I maybe I wouldn't have got dehydration as quickly if I wasn't trying to use all of that daylight
[39:55.680 -> 39:58.640] If I wasn't trying to get 20 30 miles
[39:58.720 -> 40:01.840] Maybe if I slowed the pace down and looked after myself a little bit more
[40:02.280 -> 40:10.360] And just focused on the end goal without rushing there I would have you know done it without almost dying and so I think it is that don't get carried away
[40:10.880 -> 40:14.240] Sort of ethos isn't it? Just enjoy the moment stay in the moment moment
[40:14.240 -> 40:17.640] Take your time and and still pace it out day by day. You're gonna get there
[40:17.640 -> 40:23.160] So you're checking in with yourself all the time mentally particularly when you're on your own. Yeah, you've mentioned that you know
[40:23.880 -> 40:27.680] Manifestation is something that you indulge in, believing great things are going to happen, a
[40:27.680 -> 40:31.400] positive mindset. Can you talk a bit more on that for us? Because there are still
[40:31.400 -> 40:35.720] real naysayers that go of course believing something can happen doesn't
[40:35.720 -> 40:40.840] make it happen. Yeah. As you've just said 70% of the amazing things you've
[40:40.840 -> 40:44.880] achieved are because you believe you can achieve them. Yeah. What are the processes?
[40:44.880 -> 40:48.120] Well because when I say as well like visualization, I think
[40:48.120 -> 40:51.400] a lot of people what they do is they'll visualize the highlights, they'll
[40:51.400 -> 40:55.680] visualize the positive or the positive, they'll visualize the end goal of making
[40:55.680 -> 40:59.120] wherever they're trying to get to. I'll flip that and I'll do it completely
[40:59.120 -> 41:02.960] different. I'll actually visualize the dark times, I'll actually visualize and
[41:02.960 -> 41:06.040] look into what it will feel like to be lonely what it would be like to
[41:06.040 -> 41:07.720] To be dehydrated
[41:07.720 -> 41:12.040] How I will react or feel with a pack of wolves on the hunt or surrounding me
[41:12.040 -> 41:17.340] You know in a snow blizzard and time and time again actually when I've been training because I train a lot physically
[41:17.480 -> 41:22.760] But I train physically to help prepare mentally and when I'm out there, for example, I came back from Thailand
[41:23.120 -> 41:26.120] I moved back into my parents place in Wales
[41:26.120 -> 41:29.960] I had no I had about 200 pounds to my name. I had this big idea of do Mongolia
[41:29.960 -> 41:32.040] It was a world first but I had no finance
[41:32.040 -> 41:33.620] so when I came back home
[41:33.620 -> 41:37.660] my uncle dropped me off a tractor tire because I couldn't afford no gym membership and
[41:37.880 -> 41:43.180] Every morning with my sledgehammer and tractor tire. I'd be out there 6 7 a.m. Winter summer
[41:43.180 -> 41:45.720] It didn't matter I'd be grinding as and as I'm training
[41:45.720 -> 41:52.120] I'm telling myself or I'm trying to put myself in certain scenarios if there's going to be wolves expect to be attacked if there's going
[41:52.120 -> 41:56.280] To be blizzards expect them to be the biggest and the baddest not because I want to face the biggest
[41:56.280 -> 42:00.340] But if I'm thinking of worst-case scenario and worst case was unfortunately bound to happen
[42:00.440 -> 42:09.660] It won't approach me by surprise which will send me into flight rather than fight. It comes as something I anticipated, I expected, so now I've got
[42:09.660 -> 42:13.260] to just crack on and get through it. Now there was one of those things that you
[42:13.260 -> 42:17.120] mentioned there that I think is more pragmatic for people listening to this
[42:17.120 -> 42:21.160] that yeah those of us that won't be that hopefully not hunted down by wolves.
[42:21.160 -> 42:26.200] Yeah. But something that I think is a pandemic of a different kind in our modern world,
[42:26.200 -> 42:28.040] which is loneliness.
[42:28.040 -> 42:32.680] So what tips have you got for coping with loneliness
[42:32.680 -> 42:35.520] or having those times where you feel isolated
[42:35.520 -> 42:37.520] or without help?
[42:37.520 -> 42:41.040] Routine, I would say, is having a solid routine.
[42:41.040 -> 42:41.880] And I can relate,
[42:41.880 -> 42:43.880] because when I came back after the Yangtze,
[42:43.880 -> 42:46.420] it was pretty much straight into the lockdown.
[42:46.420 -> 42:48.620] So after all of that freedom for the whole year,
[42:48.620 -> 42:50.700] it was back, it was straight back into the house,
[42:50.700 -> 42:52.060] into lockdown.
[42:52.060 -> 42:54.580] And I think it affected us all mentally.
[42:54.580 -> 42:57.180] And I think it affected everyone's business careers,
[42:57.180 -> 43:00.620] affected some part of each individual was affected.
[43:00.620 -> 43:03.700] And for me, it was the mindset.
[43:03.700 -> 43:08.080] And how I got out of that was by setting up a daily routine.
[43:08.080 -> 43:09.440] And I know a lot of people, again,
[43:09.440 -> 43:11.360] I know it's easier said than done.
[43:11.360 -> 43:12.880] And some people just want to chill,
[43:12.880 -> 43:14.080] but I'm of that mindset.
[43:14.080 -> 43:15.360] If you can remain disciplined
[43:15.360 -> 43:17.040] and if you can remain consistent,
[43:17.040 -> 43:18.320] you're going to see better days.
[43:18.320 -> 43:19.960] You're going to see good times again.
[43:19.960 -> 43:21.760] You know, like the bad storm, it hasn't come to stay.
[43:21.760 -> 43:22.800] It's come to pass.
[43:22.800 -> 43:24.220] If you can remain happy in that,
[43:24.220 -> 43:25.960] in that storm, in that bad time,
[43:25.960 -> 43:28.000] and stay consistent with the routine,
[43:28.000 -> 43:29.800] and that can be something as getting up at this time,
[43:29.800 -> 43:32.800] going for a morning run, or having a pint of water,
[43:32.800 -> 43:34.960] or making a healthy breakfast,
[43:34.960 -> 43:37.080] just with an end goal that at the end of the day,
[43:37.080 -> 43:39.440] if you can tick off just 50% of those things
[43:39.440 -> 43:40.520] that you had on the list,
[43:40.520 -> 43:43.000] you just naturally feel good about yourself.
[43:43.000 -> 43:46.880] And that's what I've learned from the extremes that I've brought back to everyday life
[43:46.880 -> 43:51.680] It is that consistency is that rooty and it's fine if some days you down as well
[43:51.680 -> 43:53.360] There are many days that I just hated it
[43:53.360 -> 43:58.800] There are many times in Madagascar, for example when I was in the jungle lost in the jungle machete in hand
[43:58.840 -> 44:04.720] I'm only covering a distance of one to two miles in 14 hours of hiking. I've got leeches falling on me
[44:04.720 -> 44:05.960] It's the cyclone season.
[44:05.960 -> 44:07.040] You've got blisters everywhere.
[44:07.040 -> 44:08.360] I had spider bites.
[44:08.360 -> 44:09.960] You're hungry, you're thirsty.
[44:09.960 -> 44:12.320] And I hated the jungle at one stage.
[44:12.320 -> 44:14.400] I developed a dark mindset.
[44:14.400 -> 44:16.040] I hated being there.
[44:16.040 -> 44:19.080] I had a team, but I had to show that I loved being there.
[44:19.080 -> 44:21.320] I was hiding my thoughts and my feelings
[44:21.320 -> 44:22.680] because I had to remain strong
[44:22.680 -> 44:23.520] because they're looking to me.
[44:23.520 -> 44:24.560] And if they see me down,
[44:24.560 -> 44:25.960] it makes it more acceptable for them to be
[44:25.960 -> 44:29.160] down. It felt like I was the pillar of the team and had to somehow hold us
[44:29.160 -> 44:33.680] together and I did. I looked for answers. I was like how can I do this?
[44:33.680 -> 44:36.280] You know I'm hating it, I'm hungry, I'm thirsty, I'm bleeding everywhere, I've got
[44:36.280 -> 44:39.680] blisters, all of my toenails have dropped off, blisters on my hand from the
[44:39.680 -> 44:46.260] machete from bushwhacking and for me again it was tomorrow was another day you know
[44:46.260 -> 44:49.600] the next day I would aim to cover this amount of mileage even if it was one
[44:49.600 -> 44:55.200] mile I would target it whereby we share hacking duty and we hack 50 meters at a
[44:55.200 -> 44:59.440] time before we share hacking duty you know by just keeping that routine I just
[44:59.440 -> 45:03.800] found that in the jungle and back at home and isolation really helped me
[45:03.800 -> 45:06.960] through. So now we arrive we've reached the arrive stage
[45:07.720 -> 45:14.840] Lots of people live an outcome based life. I'll be happy when I get the house. I'll be content when I get that new car
[45:14.840 -> 45:17.720] I'll have a smile on my face when I get a promotion
[45:18.640 -> 45:24.540] What would you like to tell people about the risks of living a life based solely on the outcome or maybe?
[45:25.340 -> 45:27.660] The outcome is what it's all about for you and not the process
[45:28.000 -> 45:29.460] No, yeah, you're right for me
[45:29.460 -> 45:34.360] It was definitely the process and I a lot of people gave me a hard time when it was down to the process
[45:34.660 -> 45:37.960] Because I you know as a youngster I was never really money motivated
[45:37.960 -> 45:44.940] I was just just all about ticking off amazing experiences, you know, so having this bucket list and going out there and
[45:42.040 -> 45:43.920] ticking off amazing experiences, you know, sort of having this bucket list
[45:43.920 -> 45:47.200] and going out there and being that poor man
[45:47.200 -> 45:49.000] who financially, who goes out there
[45:49.000 -> 45:50.940] and creates these epic experiences
[45:50.940 -> 45:52.360] so that at the end of my days,
[45:52.360 -> 45:53.480] I can look back and think,
[45:53.480 -> 45:55.280] and even if I get to 40, yeah,
[45:55.280 -> 45:57.280] I think, you know, I'm only 40,
[45:57.280 -> 45:58.720] but wow, what a life I've lived.
[45:58.720 -> 46:00.680] It's 80 in my mind.
[46:00.680 -> 46:01.680] And so I was always like that.
[46:01.680 -> 46:03.440] That's until probably five years ago
[46:03.440 -> 46:04.480] when I realized like, yes,
[46:04.480 -> 46:07.000] you have to be realistic and you need finance too, but you don't need a lot. Felly roeddwn i bob amser yn ymwneud â hynny, a dyna'n erbyn, efallai, yn ym mis go iawn, ac rwy'n sylwi, ie, mae'n rhaid i chi fod yn realistig ac mae angen cyfraniad hefyd.
[46:07.000 -> 46:13.000] Ond dydyn ni ddim angen llawer, ac rwy'n credu bod y byd yn fwy bwysig na'r arddangosfa,
[46:13.000 -> 46:16.000] oherwydd pan edrych i'r ôl i'r arddangosfa o'r blaen,
[46:16.000 -> 46:19.000] nid yw'r llinell ymlaen a oedd y cyflwyniad.
[46:19.000 -> 46:23.000] Rydyn ni'n gwybod bod miliwn o cyflwyniadau ym mewn i'r dechrau a'r cyflwyniad
[46:23.000 -> 46:25.040] sy'n dod yn fwy na'r llinell ymlaen. million highlights in between the start and the finish that stand out much more
[46:25.040 -> 46:29.080] than crossing that finish line. So when you do arrive though what processes do
[46:29.080 -> 46:34.120] you go to to distill all the learnings all the amazingly rich experiences
[46:34.120 -> 46:40.560] together before you decide to plan the next adventure? I think I actually
[46:40.560 -> 46:46.800] indirectly plan the next whilst I'm on the current and again again, that's not sort of in a cocky way.
[46:46.800 -> 46:48.840] I think that's in a way that pushes
[46:48.840 -> 46:50.760] and motivates me that little bit more.
[46:50.760 -> 46:52.040] It's like with Mongolia,
[46:52.040 -> 46:53.720] although I was struggling in Mongolia,
[46:53.720 -> 46:55.600] I was thinking of Madagascar,
[46:55.600 -> 46:58.580] you know, the locals there, the culture, the diversity.
[46:58.580 -> 47:00.580] And it actually helped me to push on Mongolia
[47:00.580 -> 47:02.500] because then I realized that, hang on,
[47:02.500 -> 47:05.320] if I don't do Mongolia, I can't go to Madagascar, you know
[47:05.320 -> 47:08.200] So it would always be that I would always be planning a step ahead of myself
[47:08.200 -> 47:13.160] And then when I was in Madagascar, I was thinking about and planning the Yangtze thinking if I can't complete these
[47:13.640 -> 47:17.160] 155 days in Madagascar. I don't stand a chance against the
[47:17.800 -> 47:19.080] 352-day
[47:19.080 -> 47:20.920] expedition in China and
[47:20.920 -> 47:23.360] So I do always kind of kind of plan ahead
[47:23.480 -> 47:29.780] But is it not a danger there that because you're always looking that far ahead you miss some of the big lessons
[47:30.600 -> 47:34.000] Yeah, and for the lessons, I guess because I'm out there, especially
[47:34.600 -> 47:36.600] Mongolia when I was completely solo
[47:37.240 -> 47:39.240] every sort of lesson that happens or
[47:39.840 -> 47:47.840] Experience that I have I've got another like sort of 14, 16 hours of walking by myself, so it's enough time to absorb.
[47:47.840 -> 47:49.160] Because a lot of people also ask,
[47:49.160 -> 47:50.720] like when you're out there in the wild
[47:50.720 -> 47:52.480] and you've done sort of all of this wilderness trekking
[47:52.480 -> 47:54.440] and the challenges and the survival,
[47:54.440 -> 47:57.520] it must be intense when you get back to the corporate world,
[47:57.520 -> 47:58.480] when you get back to the city,
[47:58.480 -> 48:02.120] but it doesn't happen within the blink of an eye.
[48:02.120 -> 48:03.440] There's a long process.
[48:03.440 -> 48:07.000] And by the time I actually cross that finish line and I'm back into civilization, it's more of, Nid yw'n digwydd yn y blincau o'r ymdrechion, mae'n broses eithaf llawn ac ar y cyfnod wnes i ddod o'r llinell yma a'n ôl i'r byd cymdeithasol,
[48:07.000 -> 48:10.320] mae'n ymwneud â'r amser.
[48:10.320 -> 48:12.520] Mae'n dweud, diolch, rydw i yma.
[48:12.520 -> 48:14.680] Felly pan ydych chi'n mynd i'r byd corporell nawr,
[48:14.680 -> 48:19.240] felly dywedoddwch, fel y bydd y mhrofiadau yn cael eu cynyddu'n fwy ac yn fwy cymhleth,
[48:19.240 -> 48:22.920] rydych chi'n teimlo eich bod angen cymhwyster a hyrwyddo a phethau fel hynny.
[48:22.920 -> 48:23.760] Ie.
[48:23.760 -> 48:26.720] Rwy'n credu yr hyn a oeddn ddod yn dda i mi ddeall,
[48:26.720 -> 48:28.400] ond hefyd i'r clywyr,
[48:28.400 -> 48:32.200] sut ydych chi'n mynd i ddod i ddod â rhywun i gwrthi chefn i wneud hyn?
[48:32.200 -> 48:33.440] Felly,
[48:33.440 -> 48:36.280] gael pobl i'w gadael i'ch ffynion neu'ch ddwyrion.
[48:36.280 -> 48:37.200] Dyw e i ni am hynny.
[48:37.200 -> 48:39.440] Mae'n y peth mwyaf anodd.
[48:39.440 -> 48:40.840] Mae'n mor anodd.
[48:40.840 -> 48:41.760] Mae'n aml o weithiau, wrth gwrs,
[48:41.760 -> 48:44.720] rydw i wedi'i ddod i gyllid, oherwydd nid yw'n digwydd.
[48:44.720 -> 48:47.800] Ac yn amserau eraill, lle allaf i ddod i gyllid, oherwydd na fyddwn i'n cael y cyllid, so hard. Many times where of course I've just self-funded because it's just not happening and other times where I couldn't self-fund because I didn't have the funds. So I was
[48:47.800 -> 48:54.360] close to calling off completely. And so I think everyone has their own individual way.
[48:54.360 -> 48:59.480] The way I did it was pretty reckless. I would say with the Yangtze one especially. So with
[48:59.480 -> 49:03.960] the Yangtze I didn't actually have the visa. I think this is the first podcast I've said
[49:03.960 -> 49:05.440] this on. It's hilarious. I didn't actually have the visa. I think this is the first podcast I've said this on. It's hilarious.
[49:05.440 -> 49:06.880] I didn't actually have the visa, the permits
[49:06.880 -> 49:08.840] or the finance to make it happen.
[49:08.840 -> 49:12.840] And none of my team was sort of working hard as well.
[49:12.840 -> 49:15.240] And I was just like, oh, I keep chasing them,
[49:15.240 -> 49:17.320] but there's no response yet, you know?
[49:17.320 -> 49:19.000] And they were kind of like saying,
[49:19.000 -> 49:19.960] you won't do it this year,
[49:19.960 -> 49:21.080] you'll probably do it next year.
[49:21.080 -> 49:22.880] And they were kind of finding ways and excuses
[49:22.880 -> 49:23.720] to put it off.
[49:23.720 -> 49:24.680] And I realized that,
[49:24.680 -> 49:27.800] how do I kick them up the ass politely and
[49:27.800 -> 49:32.480] I was like maybe if I pull together a press release if I announce it to the
[49:32.480 -> 49:35.960] world you know go to the BBC go to all of these channels and say what I'm doing
[49:35.960 -> 49:41.040] but attach these names to it you know my fixes and logistics manager in China
[49:41.040 -> 49:44.640] attach their name to it so they can see their name is now people are looking to
[49:44.640 -> 49:46.360] them to help make this happen.
[49:46.360 -> 49:48.640] And I did, and it actually, it was a huge risk.
[49:48.640 -> 49:50.480] My parents and my family friends advised me
[49:50.480 -> 49:51.680] fully against it.
[49:51.680 -> 49:53.200] They said, it's reckless.
[49:53.200 -> 49:54.560] And when you can't do it, you know,
[49:54.560 -> 49:57.120] it'll be bad for your name, but it worked.
[49:57.120 -> 50:00.480] So it was a 50, 50 risk, you know, but it worked.
[50:00.480 -> 50:01.640] They started working hard.
[50:01.640 -> 50:03.320] They didn't want to let the expedition down.
[50:03.320 -> 50:08.280] And that's when I think we got then more brands and partners and sponsorship on board and it actually happened
[50:08.400 -> 50:09.800] And there's a true power in that
[50:09.800 -> 50:11.920] I mean we've spoken to lots of people who said that
[50:12.060 -> 50:16.440] The day that they felt they really had to make something happen was the day they wrote it down, you know
[50:16.440 -> 50:18.040] Kassim Michael the goalkeeper
[50:18.040 -> 50:18.480] Yeah
[50:18.480 -> 50:21.200] He'd always dreamed of winning the Premier League and he's and someone said well
[50:21.280 -> 50:24.920] Tell people that then he all it was he went to a school and he said, you know
[50:24.920 -> 50:28.300] What one day I'm gonna win the Premier League for the minute. He said that to those kids
[50:28.820 -> 50:31.060] That was the moment he had to make it happen. Yeah, and again
[50:31.740 -> 50:33.740] Writing that contract with yourself
[50:34.100 -> 50:40.260] Publicly can be such a powerful motivating factor for you and everyone around you. Yeah, it seemed to have worked for me
[50:40.260 -> 50:42.260] You know, I don't want to have to do that again
[50:42.780 -> 50:44.780] But you might it's next time a press release
[50:49.240 -> 50:54.640] Message you and say have you got the money before we move on to our quickfire questions yeah I've loved this conversation because the
[50:54.640 -> 50:59.800] overriding thought that keeps coming to my head is optimism optimism and up we
[50:59.800 -> 51:03.180] all see people that live a life where they allow the fear to control what they
[51:03.180 -> 51:05.900] think they can or can't do rather than allowing the optimism
[51:05.900 -> 51:09.140] so going back to the darkest the most difficult moments where
[51:09.900 -> 51:12.080] Your life is literally on the line
[51:12.520 -> 51:19.520] How much time in those moments and how much energy are you putting into the thought that the worst can happen?
[51:19.840 -> 51:21.840] Or is it 100%?
[51:22.760 -> 51:25.520] About the positive and I can do this and the optimism?
[51:25.520 -> 51:30.760] I just want you to realize how futile and pointless negative thoughts are. Yeah
[51:30.760 -> 51:33.800] Yeah, I would say with that it was probably 90 10
[51:33.920 -> 51:38.200] There's a 10% because it's not a case of winning or losing in this case of living a dying
[51:38.200 -> 51:43.400] There's a 10% that that just sinks in the brain just for a split second before I can
[51:43.440 -> 51:45.680] Nip it in the bud or eradicate that.
[51:45.680 -> 51:48.780] And then the 90% I'm relying on to take over
[51:48.780 -> 51:50.620] because it's a 90% that's gonna pick me up
[51:50.620 -> 51:53.060] from under that trailer and push me onto the next water
[51:53.060 -> 51:55.220] source, that 10% is not gonna do anything.
[51:55.220 -> 51:57.820] And a perfect example of that would be,
[51:57.820 -> 51:59.220] and this is a bit of a wild story,
[51:59.220 -> 52:00.960] but when I was in Madagascar as well,
[52:00.960 -> 52:02.600] and after everything that I faced,
[52:02.600 -> 52:05.280] I actually contracted the deadliest strain of malaria,
[52:05.280 -> 52:07.160] which was falciparum.
[52:07.160 -> 52:09.160] And I remember I was taking my anti-malaria pills,
[52:09.160 -> 52:10.200] but I still had this malaria.
[52:10.200 -> 52:11.140] I was delirious.
[52:11.140 -> 52:12.680] I was hallucinating yet again.
[52:12.680 -> 52:15.180] And I had five days to walk to the next community,
[52:15.180 -> 52:18.360] which had Overland Transport to get me to the hotel
[52:18.360 -> 52:19.520] because I had malaria.
[52:19.520 -> 52:21.360] I couldn't go to a hospital.
[52:21.360 -> 52:22.800] I needed to stay quarantined.
[52:23.680 -> 52:24.560] And as I was walking,
[52:24.560 -> 52:26.320] I remember the morning that I woke up, the very morning that I needed to get to a hospital, I needed to stay quarantined. And as I was walking, I remember the morning that I woke up,
[52:26.320 -> 52:29.920] the very morning that I needed to get to that hospital
[52:29.920 -> 52:33.280] or that hotel, I had two voices inside me.
[52:33.280 -> 52:36.200] And one of the voices was just stay asleep.
[52:36.200 -> 52:37.520] It'll be a painless death.
[52:37.520 -> 52:39.280] You'll just drift off and that's it.
[52:39.280 -> 52:40.720] And there was another side, bearing in mind,
[52:40.720 -> 52:43.380] it was hallucinating, delirious, all sorts was going on,
[52:43.380 -> 52:47.940] was screaming at me, get up, get get yourself up push on to that to that hospital
[52:48.640 -> 52:53.060] And I lit that's the that's the voice I listened to and I did get up and you know
[52:53.060 -> 52:55.060] I went from being strong and and
[52:55.180 -> 52:59.020] Capable to then not being able to pick up a glass of water, you know
[52:59.020 -> 53:03.500] I lost all my strength, but I was able to push on enough to get to that hotel
[53:03.540 -> 53:05.280] And when the doctor took my blood
[53:05.280 -> 53:09.040] She said potentially a few hours later and you would have slipped into a coma
[53:09.040 -> 53:13.500] And so that's the difference of listening to that negative side in which I would have died
[53:13.500 -> 53:17.520] We're listening to that scream inside saying get up push on otherwise
[53:17.520 -> 53:23.960] You're gonna die and I that's that's the side I listen to the positive side not the negative and it made all the difference
[53:27.520 -> 53:33.100] Bloody hell what an amazing conversation Listen, we always end with our quickfire questions. Sure. And the first one is what are the three
[53:33.100 -> 53:37.220] Non-negotiables and this is great for you because you build teams all the time to take
[53:37.220 -> 53:39.040] with you on a life-or-death missions
[53:39.040 -> 53:43.140] What are the three non-negotiables that you and the people around you have to buy into
[53:43.140 -> 53:45.320] to be part of your world
[53:47.320 -> 53:47.760] Enthusiasm has to be first
[53:52.500 -> 53:56.840] Enthusiasm kindness because when you're out there in the thick of it with you know Go for a tough time with someone if they're not kind you're gonna you you're gonna be in for a rough rough ride
[53:56.840 -> 53:59.400] So I like to say that I'm kind on my to my team
[54:00.040 -> 54:06.140] Enthusiastic and loyal. I would say those are the three and with loyal fault in trust
[54:06.140 -> 54:08.680] So I'd say loyalty and trust and that goes to
[54:09.640 -> 54:14.700] Businesses as well when they're looking at teamwork, you know, you want a good solid loyal and trustworthy team
[54:14.700 -> 54:18.120] You want someone who is enthusiastic you point to the top of that mountain?
[54:18.120 -> 54:22.100] It looks ridiculous and then you think of all of the challenges and obstacles, but they're like we got it
[54:22.100 -> 54:25.040] Let's do it and then kindness because they're the ones that aren't gonna leave you
[54:25.040 -> 54:28.440] Behind they're gonna pick you up when you're down and you're gonna pick them up when they're down
[54:28.560 -> 54:33.800] If you could go back to one moment in your life, what would it be? Why? Oh, that's such a good one
[54:33.800 -> 54:37.240] Oh god, I don't know. I think it is gonna have to be
[54:37.920 -> 54:40.280] Maybe in one of these communities
[54:41.200 -> 54:45.280] For a life far and in the wilderness could be in the middle of the desert,
[54:45.280 -> 54:46.540] could be in the middle of Madagascar,
[54:46.540 -> 54:49.500] where I was just sat down with a local community,
[54:49.500 -> 54:51.420] nothing but smiles.
[54:51.420 -> 54:52.700] We couldn't communicate.
[54:52.700 -> 54:55.820] We had to draw in the sand and like do hand gestures
[54:55.820 -> 54:58.340] to communicate, but they took me in like I was a brother,
[54:58.340 -> 55:00.160] you know, then pushing on from that,
[55:00.160 -> 55:02.180] realizing I'm never going to be back here
[55:02.180 -> 55:03.780] and I'm never going to see those people again.
[55:03.780 -> 55:10.440] Yet they've provided me with warmth, with drink, and I've got to see their way of life and there's something special knowing that that's just a brief
[55:10.440 -> 55:13.680] human encounter out there in the absolute wilderness and
[55:14.080 -> 55:15.760] I think one map one
[55:15.760 -> 55:20.400] Particular community that comes in mind is one that I left and I looked at the map to try to see what it was called
[55:20.400 -> 55:26.560] And it wasn't even on the map. I was like, wow, I'm not, you know, never gonna see again What a privilege though. Yeah
[55:26.960 -> 55:29.400] Amazing. Um, how important is legacy to you? I
[55:30.280 -> 55:32.920] Think we all want to leave something behind
[55:33.480 -> 55:38.600] Whether that's large for the world to see or small, you know just for your family. Do you think about it?
[55:38.600 -> 55:43.240] I never used to but now I kind of have been thinking about it with the book that's out
[55:44.080 -> 55:46.960] With it being three world records and with people
[55:48.160 -> 55:49.880] writing to me like
[55:49.880 -> 55:55.880] Planning their own expeditions and me being able to help maybe the bigger footprint and getting the awareness out there and hence
[55:55.880 -> 56:00.780] Why now I'm working more with TV get the message out there further and I think it also have to say that
[56:01.280 -> 56:04.720] You know, I've done these expeditions, but they've not just been for adventure sake
[56:03.720 -> 56:07.080] have to say that, you know, I've done these expeditions, but they've not just been for adventure's sake. I've actually partnered with organizations and
[56:07.080 -> 56:11.160] charities and helped raise funds, but also helped raise awareness. So for
[56:11.160 -> 56:14.680] Mongolia, I was raising awareness about climate change and the effects it has on
[56:14.680 -> 56:17.800] the nomadic way of life, trying to give back to the locals in the country.
[56:17.800 -> 56:21.600] Madagascar was for the Lima Network Conservation and raising funds and
[56:21.600 -> 56:27.440] awareness for all the amazing work they're doing to protect the unique biodiversity of the island and then
[56:27.680 -> 56:32.440] The Yangtze it was pollution. So when I say legacy, it's not in a case of sort of look at me
[56:32.440 -> 56:33.560] Look at how I've achieved this
[56:33.560 -> 56:39.440] It's in a whole well-rounded message of you can do good whilst helping other people along the way
[56:39.960 -> 56:44.200] Helping the real unsung heroes is what I call them the conservationists the environmentalists
[56:44.200 -> 56:47.980] And if you can project their voice louder, then that's a win-win for me
[56:48.020 -> 56:52.500] What advice would you give to a teenage ash in North Wales just starting out?
[56:53.780 -> 56:56.660] That you are far more capable than you give yourself credit for
[56:56.660 -> 56:59.880] I think I take it back to that and whatever you're planning go for it
[56:59.880 -> 57:05.760] You'll have naysayers and you'll have this idea you just it's important to understand that it doesn't matter if no one else sees it
[57:05.760 -> 57:07.940] For you what's important is if you can see it for yourself
[57:08.820 -> 57:16.180] Beautiful and our final question is kind of your last message really to the people that have been absorbed by this conversation and has been brilliant
[57:17.000 -> 57:19.260] What would you say is your one golden rule?
[57:19.760 -> 57:26.160] For living a high-performance life. My one golden rule would be to enjoy the process but to remain
[57:26.780 -> 57:31.840] Disciplined I think it is like grind and the determination to just keep going
[57:32.480 -> 57:35.540] You're gonna have off days. You're gonna have up days. There's highs and lows
[57:35.540 -> 57:40.740] I think if you can stay on your grind you you're gonna get to where you're trying to get to eventually
[57:40.740 -> 57:42.740] It's only a matter of time
[57:45.040 -> 57:50.840] Damien Jake what a guy. Brilliant. Do you know what there's loads of takeaways I mean the
[57:50.840 -> 57:54.080] biggest thing I wish that everyone that's listened to this episode could be
[57:54.080 -> 57:59.320] in the room with us because his energy, his aura, his positivity, I feel like he
[57:59.320 -> 58:02.800] could get me to cross the Gobi Desert. Yeah there was a couple of times where I
[58:02.800 -> 58:07.040] was sort of jumping out on my seat in terms of the excitement of when he was y gobe ddewr. Roedd yna rhai o'r amserau lle roeddwn i'n ymdrech ar y sefydliad, o ran yr hyrwyddod oedd yn siarad am
[58:07.040 -> 58:10.080] y wythyrion sy'n eu hysgwrs, neu, wyth, fod yn y brif
[58:10.080 -> 58:13.680] o'r ffyrdd a'r blwyddyn yn sefydlu, roedd yn wir yn
[58:13.680 -> 58:17.360] ffyrddol iawn, ond dim ond y meddwl o fod yn dda i'r ddewr
[58:17.360 -> 58:20.560] ac yn dal, mae'r stori o'r Natiwm Gynulliad Gwledig
[58:20.560 -> 58:23.120] lle maen nhw'n siarad am gael dwy wythyr yn eich gweithredu,
[58:23.120 -> 58:26.960] y wythyr sy'n ymddangos gwybodaethau dŷn a, y wylf sy'n ymddiried ar y cyfnodau'n dda
[58:26.960 -> 58:30.240] a'r wylf sy'n ymddiried ar y cyfnodau'n optimistig, ac y cyfrin yw, wel,
[58:30.240 -> 58:33.440] pa un ysgrifennwch chi? Wel, mae'n depenod ar unrhyw un rydych chi'n ei ddynnu,
[58:33.440 -> 58:37.920] ac rwy'n credu bod y stori y gafodd ei ddweud o ran y meddwl o,
[58:37.920 -> 58:42.240] lydiwch, gaelwch malaria, bydd yn ddewis ddewis ddiddorol, yn ystod,
[58:42.240 -> 58:46.920] gadewch i fynd, ffwrdd, gadewch i'r ffordd. Ac roedd y peth y byddwch chi'n ddynnu i'w ddynnu, It'll be a painless death versus get up fight keep walking and it was the one that he chose to feed was the one that
[58:46.920 -> 58:49.040] Took him to a more optimistic place
[58:49.040 -> 58:55.880] And I think of course we're not expecting people to be walking rivers or crossing deserts or exploring the world in the way that ash does
[58:56.480 -> 59:01.040] But there are so many takeaways that that people can take from that conversation to their own lives
[59:01.040 -> 59:05.320] and the big one for me is when life seems daunting when challenges seem too big when
[59:05.640 -> 59:10.040] It looks like there's a huge mountain a metaphorical mountain in front of you break it down
[59:10.200 -> 59:12.620] The wall is it's just a collection of bricks
[59:12.620 -> 59:14.620] The mountain is a collection of steps
[59:14.620 -> 59:21.140] The challenge in front of you is a collection of decisions and he is the master ash at breaking it down to the tiny details
[59:21.140 -> 59:23.380] And knowing if he can tick off each one of those
[59:23.380 -> 59:27.940] He'll reach the end goal and the consistency and the discipline to do that even when
[59:27.940 -> 59:32.780] you can see the finish line in sight but still be patient and just tick them off
[59:32.780 -> 59:38.480] one by one bit by bit is a lesson that any of us can adopt. Right it's time to
[59:38.480 -> 59:41.360] meet another listener to high performance and this person got in touch
[59:41.360 -> 59:44.960] to say I recently started listening to your podcast when I heard Jake on heart
[59:44.960 -> 59:45.480] radio. I can honestly say it's the main thing that's helped motivate me to throw And this person got in touch to say I recently started listening to your podcast when I heard Jake on heart radio
[59:45.480 -> 59:50.960] I can honestly say it's the main thing that's helped motivate me to throw myself back into my jobs with meaning
[59:50.960 -> 59:57.520] I'm on maternity leave at the moment. I have a four-year-old and a four-month-old. They're my world family time is so important
[59:57.960 -> 01:00:02.260] Maternity leave is not really for me. I kind of love it, but also hate it. I'm a paramedic
[01:00:02.260 -> 01:00:07.000] So my career is also really important. I feel myself spiraling into post-natal depression
[01:00:07.000 -> 01:00:13.320] But when I found this podcast it was the time when I needed something to help refocus my mind and this was the perfect thing
[01:00:13.320 -> 01:00:18.260] I've just started out as an independent travel agent in my spare time and I train new ambulance staff
[01:00:18.680 -> 01:00:24.300] In between my frontline shifts listening to your podcast put the fire back in my belly and now listen to it all the time
[01:00:24.300 -> 01:00:26.200] I love the quick fire questions at the end
[01:00:26.200 -> 01:00:30.220] It's a great way to summarize and I use this in my daily life and if ever I feel overwhelmed
[01:00:30.220 -> 01:00:33.320] I just asked myself three quick fire questions
[01:00:33.320 -> 01:00:38.020] Which make me refocus and remember why I'm here and why I'm doing what I'm doing Sadie
[01:00:38.060 -> 01:00:40.300] Thank you so much for joining us on high performance
[01:00:41.300 -> 01:00:44.160] Thank you for having me. It's a pleasure to be here
[01:00:44.500 -> 01:00:48.600] Thank you for having me it's a pleasure to be here. Wonderful so would you mind sharing with us the questions that you ask yourself
[01:00:48.600 -> 01:00:56.440] when you can feel that things aren't great. So I just have to remember why
[01:00:56.440 -> 01:01:01.160] I'm doing what I'm doing, do I want to do it and how does it make me feel,
[01:01:01.160 -> 01:01:06.400] anything I don't feel like I'm not doing it for me, I'm doing it for other people,
[01:01:06.400 -> 01:01:07.880] and it's not making me happy,
[01:01:07.880 -> 01:01:10.080] then I need to re-evaluate.
[01:01:10.080 -> 01:01:14.240] If I'm doing something that I feel like actually,
[01:01:14.240 -> 01:01:15.320] it could probably wait,
[01:01:15.320 -> 01:01:16.760] or it doesn't need to be done now,
[01:01:16.760 -> 01:01:19.600] then I can re-evaluate again and change my mind.
[01:01:19.600 -> 01:01:20.840] I feel like actually in life,
[01:01:20.840 -> 01:01:22.640] we kind of put a lot on ourselves,
[01:01:22.640 -> 01:01:24.480] a lot of pressure on ourselves to do things,
[01:01:24.480 -> 01:01:26.520] and we always try and please other people in that as well.
[01:01:26.520 -> 01:01:28.920] So sometimes you need to be a bit selfish.
[01:01:28.920 -> 01:01:31.280] You know, I do a similar thing actually, Sadie.
[01:01:31.280 -> 01:01:34.040] So I, obviously I have the football work that I do,
[01:01:34.040 -> 01:01:35.200] and then the podcast happened
[01:01:35.200 -> 01:01:36.780] and it kind of turned into a full-time job.
[01:01:36.780 -> 01:01:39.440] And suddenly I found myself like you with two kids
[01:01:39.440 -> 01:01:41.000] and a wife and a full-time job.
[01:01:41.000 -> 01:01:43.720] And just sort of, every time I took a step back
[01:01:43.720 -> 01:01:47.500] and looked at the way things were going, it felt like something was going to collapse and
[01:01:47.500 -> 01:01:50.440] the last thing that it could be was the relationship with my kids or the
[01:01:50.440 -> 01:01:54.040] marriage to Harriet so I made a rule well there's two really that I made the
[01:01:54.040 -> 01:01:58.880] first one was family first so every decision no matter what the offer is if
[01:01:58.880 -> 01:02:02.880] it if it takes away an amazing moment with the family then it won't happen and
[01:02:02.880 -> 01:02:07.860] the other thing is similar to you I have what I call the three P's now which when I get a phone
[01:02:07.860 -> 01:02:11.520] call or I get asked to do something does it bring profit I mean let's just be
[01:02:11.520 -> 01:02:14.120] honest we have to pay our mortgage and feed our children right so if it's gonna
[01:02:14.120 -> 01:02:20.920] pay well you do it profit purpose like does it play into the purpose or passion
[01:02:20.920 -> 01:02:24.600] so if it doesn't have really have any purpose for anyone else but it doesn't
[01:02:24.600 -> 01:02:25.040] pay much,
[01:02:25.040 -> 01:02:26.800] but I'm passionate about it, then fine.
[01:02:26.800 -> 01:02:28.560] So those are my kind of three Ps.
[01:02:28.560 -> 01:02:29.720] And I think you're right.
[01:02:29.720 -> 01:02:33.040] We slip, don't we, into just saying yes all the time.
[01:02:33.040 -> 01:02:36.240] We're not really even knowing why we do things.
[01:02:36.240 -> 01:02:37.960] And suddenly we're filling our days with stuff
[01:02:37.960 -> 01:02:39.240] that doesn't really bring us anything.
[01:02:39.240 -> 01:02:40.360] Does that ring a bell?
[01:02:40.360 -> 01:02:41.460] 100%.
[01:02:41.460 -> 01:02:42.560] What's the answer, Damien,
[01:02:42.560 -> 01:02:44.840] to making sure that this sort of thing doesn't happen?
[01:02:44.840 -> 01:02:48.000] Well, I'm interested in asking, Sally, that very question of, like, first of all, 100%. Beth yw'r gwybod Damien i sicrhau bod hyn o fewn y peth hwn ddim yn digwydd? Wel, rwy'n mwynhau gofyn i Sadie y cwestiwn hwn o,
[01:02:48.000 -> 01:02:52.080] fel, yn gyntaf, pa effaith y teimladwch chi y bydd y cwestiynau hynny wedi'u cael ar y
[01:02:52.080 -> 01:02:57.920] gwale o eich bywyd, Sadie? Rwy'n credu, maen nhw'n gwneud i mi ddeall
[01:02:57.920 -> 01:03:03.840] bod bywyd yn mynd yn fwy cyflym ac y gallwch chi ddweud nad oes gennych unrhyw amser i wneud hyn a'r un,
[01:03:03.840 -> 01:03:07.000] ond mewn gwirionedd, y pethau y byddwch chi eisiau eu gwneud, rydych chi'n cael amser.
[01:03:07.000 -> 01:03:14.000] Fel pan oedd fy nhwyr oedol yn gofyn i mi, oedd e'n mynd i mewn i chwarae gyda fi, roeddwn i'n mor bysig, yma'n dweud yma'n dweud, oh, nid, rhaid i mi wneud hyn, rhaid i mi wneud hyn, ond mewn gwirionedd,
[01:03:14.000 -> 01:03:28.080] dim ond cymaint o ffiniau i ddweud, oh, ia, byddwn i'n gwneud hyn am ffiniau, yna byddwn i'n mynd i gyrraeddser a pha mor amser rydw i'n ei wneud. Mae'n gwneud i mi fod yn fwy agored a chyflwyno i mi allan o'r sbyrwl o
[01:03:28.080 -> 01:03:30.240] depresiyn gyn-natal rydw i'n teimlo yn mynd ymlaen.
[01:03:30.240 -> 01:03:32.720] Felly mae'n helpu'n fawr iawn.
[01:03:32.720 -> 01:03:34.240] Diolch am rannu hynny.
[01:03:34.240 -> 01:03:36.560] Ac i chi, a beth am y bobl o'ch gwmpas yn eich bywyd?
[01:03:36.560 -> 01:03:40.240] Felly nid dim ond eich plant, ond partnerion a cymdeithaswyr.
[01:03:40.240 -> 01:03:44.800] Pa mor hynny yw eu cymryd i chi rhoi prioritiaeth ar eich hun a'ch eich lles?
[01:03:44.800 -> 01:03:48.320] Mae'n debyg i mi fod yn gweldryd cyfrifol ar eich hun a'ch gynhyrchau eich hun? Mae'n debyg bod nhw'n sylwi'r gwahaniaeth o'ch hyder.
[01:03:48.320 -> 01:03:52.880] Rwy'n teimlo ei fod wedi helpu i mi ddod yn mwy hyderus yn yr hyn rwy'n eich am, a'r ffordd rwy'n gweithio ac yn y pethau,
[01:03:52.880 -> 01:03:54.880] a dyna'n wir yn dda.
[01:03:54.880 -> 01:03:59.280] Mae'n sylwi'r ffaith bod fy mwynion yn fwy, mwy, mwy glir nawr hefyd.
[01:03:59.280 -> 01:04:02.960] Ac rydym yn edrych ar ôl i'r holl bethau gwahanol rydyn ni'n ei wneud.
[01:04:02.960 -> 01:04:04.560] Rydyn ni'n cael ein hysbysu'n ddiweddar i'r mlynedd nesaf,
[01:04:04.560 -> 01:04:07.840] felly mae hwn wedi bod yn slog eithaf anodd gyda'r canceliadau a phopeth eraill. looking forward to it, like all the different things that we're doing. We're getting married next month, so that has been quite a hard slog with all the cancellations and everything
[01:04:07.840 -> 01:04:13.120] else. So we've been focusing on that and been happier looking forward to it rather than
[01:04:13.120 -> 01:04:18.000] like feeling like it's another chore. So they've noticed, they've all noticed the difference.
[01:04:18.000 -> 01:04:23.440] That's great. So you heard me talking to Jamie and Amanda right on heart, promoting High
[01:04:23.440 -> 01:04:27.400] Performance, talking about the book. So then you you thank you very much by the way for then coming to
[01:04:27.400 -> 01:04:30.400] the podcast and what's now your favorite episode?
[01:04:30.400 -> 01:04:37.600] It's got to be Nim's, Nim's Purge because when he spoke about how again coming
[01:04:37.600 -> 01:04:40.480] from like not even having a pair of flip-flops to where he is now and
[01:04:40.480 -> 01:04:45.000] climbing all those mountains just incredible but the fact that he said his oxygen got stolen when he was at Everest and instead of looking at it like oh ond y ffaith bod y ffyrdd o'i ddweud ei fod ar y ffordd y gafodd ei ddweud,
[01:04:45.000 -> 01:04:48.000] ei oxygen yn cael ei ddod yn ffwrdd pan oedd yn Everest.
[01:04:48.000 -> 01:04:51.000] Ac yn hytrach na'i edrych arno fel, oh, mae rhywun wedi'i ddweud,
[01:04:51.000 -> 01:04:54.000] mae fy oxygen ar gyfer mi, ac nawr rydw i wedi cael fy ffyrdd o ddweud hynny,
[01:04:54.000 -> 01:05:10.560] ac yn ffyrdd o'i ddweud hynny, mae'n ffyrdd o'i ddweud hynny, a oedd yn dweud hynny, a oedd yn dweud hynny, a oedd yn dweud hynny, a oedd yn dweud hynny, a oedd yn dweud hynny, a oedd yn dweud hynny, a oedd yn dweud hynny, a oedd yn dweud hynny, a oedd yn dweud hynny, a oedd yn dweud hynny, a oedd yn dweud hynny, a oedd yn dweud hynny, a oedd yn dweud hynny, a oedd yn dweud hynny, a oedd yn dweud hynny, a oedd yn dweud hynny, a oedd yn dweud hynny, a oedd yn dweud hynny, a oedd yn dweud hynny, a oedd yn dweud hynny, a oedd yn dweud hynny, a oedd yn dweud hynny, a oedd yn dweud hynny, a oedd yn dweud hynny, a oedd yn dweud hyn He was struggling and all of that. So turning something from a negative like straight away We always go to a negative and think someone's done us out of something when actually they could have been doing something nice
[01:05:10.560 -> 01:05:14.160] And actually it's more beneficial to us to think positive
[01:05:14.640 -> 01:05:19.840] Instead of negative because that person doesn't know that we're really angry about that. They don't care about that
[01:05:19.840 -> 01:05:26.320] So actually if you think positive the only person that's going to affect you how you react is you I love it
[01:05:26.320 -> 01:05:28.320] I can't speak more highly of nims than
[01:05:28.720 -> 01:05:34.480] Then you've just heard so if you want to listen to that episode it is episode 32 of the high-performance
[01:05:34.960 -> 01:05:39.640] podcasts and thank you so so much for for reaching out to us for
[01:05:40.380 -> 01:05:44.420] Taking high performance on I think the big thing to remember is that loads of people have listened to the high-performance
[01:05:43.280 -> 01:05:46.300] taking high performance on I think the big thing to remember is that loads of people have listened to the high performance podcast and they've they've
[01:05:46.300 -> 01:05:51.820] gained things but actually taking it on further than that and using it to change
[01:05:51.820 -> 01:05:56.320] your life I think is is so important Sadie so thank you very much for coming
[01:05:56.320 -> 01:05:59.260] on and talking to us and sharing your story. Thank you I really appreciate it I
[01:05:59.260 -> 01:06:03.660] love what you guys do so I'll keep listening.
[01:06:04.460 -> 01:06:07.860] So there you go as always thank you more than anybody
[01:06:07.860 -> 01:06:11.640] else so much for coming to this episode of High Performance. Don't forget you can
[01:06:11.640 -> 01:06:15.360] find us on YouTube, you can join our circle, you can get your hands on our
[01:06:15.360 -> 01:06:19.640] book in 2023, you can come on our live tour, if you're a teacher, if you work in
[01:06:19.640 -> 01:06:23.640] the education space, you can also get access to free educational tools. All you
[01:06:23.640 -> 01:06:25.780] need to do is go to the high performance
[01:06:26.300 -> 01:06:33.780] Podcast dot-com and it's all there click on education or click on the circle because this podcast for us is about outcomes
[01:06:34.060 -> 01:06:36.640] It's not about income as always
[01:06:36.860 -> 01:06:41.680] It's you that helped to grow this podcast by sharing it by talking about it among your community
[01:06:41.680 -> 01:06:44.720] So, please continue to spread the learnings that you're taking from this series
[01:06:43.360 -> 01:06:46.840] talking about it among your community so please continue to spread the learnings that you're taking from this series. Massive thanks to Finn from Rethink
[01:06:46.840 -> 01:06:51.440] Audio, to Hannah, to Will, to Eve, to Gemma, to the whole team behind the podcast and
[01:06:51.440 -> 01:06:56.040] remember there is no secret it is all there for you so chase world-class
[01:06:56.040 -> 01:07:01.720] basics don't get high on your own supply remain humble curious and empathetic and
[01:07:01.720 -> None] we'll see you very soon. you