The last 4 weeks I’ve been hitting my stride.
Both metaphorically and literally. By adjusting to the new role while also ramping up the Ironman training to new heights. I’m in the midst of a 3 month sprint right now, maintaining the tempo of my commitments and leaving very little time to simply sit and do nothing.
Only a few months ago I’d have labelled this speed a distraction and a symptom of a lack of focus. However, this time it feels different. I’m aligned to my activities in life, pushing the body and mind through a challenging, yet sustainable period of growth. For even though there’s a lot to do, I’m moving through each day with an ease of self-assurance.
There’s no self-doubt. Only forward momentum.
How’s it all REALLY going?
Taking on a new role has been the biggest change this month.
And I’d say I’ve settled in rather well.
I’ve had two weeks of heavy onboarding with 5-6 hour days of calls. Each has been teaching me a lot, while frying my brain in the process. Clearly this time is a necessary evil. As there’s a lot to get to grips with, as is the case in any start-up. Especially in my role in Operations, which touches every department across the organisation. But, it did feel like there might be gains to be made from async learning too. So much so that I’ve already been in, systemised and improved the process for our next joiners.
Which is already giving me a feeling like I’m now embedded in the perfect place to make an impact on the future of work space that I know is possible. All while learning loads each day, working with inspiring people and embedding the evolutionary organisation ideas that I’ve been advising on for the last few years. I’m deep in the nitty gritty of business. Exactly where I want to be. And it’s the perfect balance of being outside my comfort zone enough to be pushed to new heights, but without the crippling anxiety of not knowing how to do anything.
However, I am hugely grateful to my past self for having negotiated a 4-day work week, taking Monday & Friday mornings off. Without this it’d be difficult to make the time for the coaching, writing & community building that I’ve been doing alongside. I’d probably still manage it. But, I reckon I’d be risking burnout in the long-term. Especially while also trying to fit in 15 hours of training into each week too.
As predicted in the last diary, I’ve had to embrace the machine-like productivity that is needed to fit everything into the week. Bed at 10pm. Up at 6am. Live by the timeboxing of the calendar. Limit social activities. Avoid alcohol (mostly). Get enough sleep. Keep meditating and journaling.
The days are flying by quicker than ever.
Which would normally be a cause for concern. But, this time it feels like I’m getting my head down and making progress in the areas of life that I’ve accepted are important to me.
The increased speed of life is ticking me ever closer to the Ironman UK race day (as their emails keep reminding me…). I’m now 65 days away from toeing the start line. And I’m fitter than ever, having run another personal best over the 10k in Brighton (31.24 - 16s PB) on 2nd of April. The consistent Winter training is paying off and I’m excited to see what’s possible.
But, before we get to 2nd July I’m going to have to face my fears by returning to Mallorca for our club’s training camp next week. It was on this trip last year that the 1st year of triathlon training came undone when I cycled myself off a cliff at 63km/h. The scars still remain on my arms to this day. And my left pinkie finger will always be a little stiff.
This time round I’d like to think my bike handling skills are infinitely superior to a year ago, but even with this reassurance you can bet I’ll be taking the descents with a lot more caution this time around. For if going a little 5% slower will save me from another year of training this intensely I’ll be doing it. Even if I’ll need to resist going harder when fitness is skyrocketing.
The third feature of the month has been the transition from the in-person Mastery In Your 20s meet-up into a truly hybrid community. After experimenting with WhatsApp’s new community features (they’re a bit spammy), I’ve decided to host the bulk of communications on a Discord server. It now includes a number of new channels for discussing the five types of “health” - mental, physical, financial, digital & business alongside places to organise meetups and share new ideas.
I’ve been experimenting with “Spontaneous Socials” and new opportunities for getting together. They’ve been good fun, but the focus will now shift to bringing in a planning committee to help organise all the exciting things I want to get in the calendar this year. The next big event on this list is a Summer camping trip together. For all paying subscribers there’s more on this to come very soon.
This Month’s Lesson: Move quickly when you need to, but beware the hastening of time that follows. Ensure you set the angle of trajectory before launching full speed ahead towards it’s destination.
What’s Coming Up Next?
9 Weeks Until Ironman UK
Next week is a training camp in Mallorca. Then I’ve got 4 races in 8 weeks to prepare for the big day. Night of the 10,000m PBs, RideLondon 100 Miler, Tour of Cambridgeshire 100 Miler & Eastbourne Olympic Triathlon. It’s time to get serious. All while avoiding injury along the way.
Big Projects Launching at TPC
I’ve parachuted in to the start-up at the perfect time. I’m confident we’ve just identified product-market fit with the successful first cohort of a mentorship programme. It’s now onto me to run cohort 2 of it, while scaling the operations to broaden for future opportunities.
Taking Part in a No-Code Bootcamp
Max Haining has invited me to join his 30 Day No-Code Bootcamp for May and I’m super excited for it. I’ve had my eyes on it for a while now, so can’t wait to get stuck in to see what I can build. I’ll keep you updated with how it goes in the next newsletter.
Nailing The Time Management in May
With so much on in May sacrifices will need to be made. Once I’m back from Mallorca on the 6th I’ll be cutting out alcohol, reducing social events and protecting my energy until at least June (and likely until the race day). It’s the best way I can stay on-top of everything that’s important to me right now.
A Final Note
The last 4 weeks have reminded me of my final year at school when I studied 8am until 10pm Monday through Saturday for a 3 month period for A Levels. On results day I’d improved from my AS results of ACC to A*AA and I couldn’t have been happier. It was one of the most intense periods of my life. But, it was completely utterly worth it.
And it taught me that I can go all-in when I need to. It now feels like I’m at a similar stage right now with so many overlapping opportunities stacking together towards a higher level of mastery. I’m in sprint mode. And the legs are moving quickly at a fast, yet sustainable pace. All I’ve got to do is maintain motivation, lean on my routines and not get injured along the way.
Thank you for joining me on the journey. It means a lot.