I haven’t written a blog for a while. With the holiday season and more time spent on the golf course with clients, time has passed me by. It’s been a great summer, with lots happening around the business, including the launch of the new BB website. There is still lots of work to do on it, but it’s starting to reflect our values and culture.
Check it out and let me know what you think
I can’t quite believe we are now in November. Time flies when you’re having fun, clearly! I have started to book in Christmas lunches with clients over the next 7 weeks, which feels a little crazy! I always love this time of the year, as conversations turn to understanding client’s plans and strategies going into 2024 and reflecting on what has been achieved in 2023.
I recently chaired the APSCo Midlands event, where we discussed the impact of AI and ChatGPT on the recruitment sector. There were some great conversations, and this is clearly a hot topic across all sectors. The general view from the room was that AI and ChatGPT are fantastic tools to help certain processes; however, it is important to ensure that all data is protected and that clear rules are in place for how it is used within your business. We also discussed that no matter how advanced AI becomes, it can’t replace face-to-face engagement; it can’t build rapport or strong relationships like human-to-human engagement can.
It was interesting to see the interview with Rishi Sunak and Elon Musk at the recent AI summit, where it was suggested by Musk that AI will put an end to work. I do wonder if this means ‘work as we know it’ rather than no work at all. My view, for what it’s worth, is that we will evolve as we have always done for generations and generations to roles and jobs that will take us to a so-called new “Industrial revolution” — something such as the “AI Digital Revolution,” which with it will create roles we have no idea about right now.
What do you think?
As of November, it’s now been 2 years since I had the moment of clarity that I needed to change my lifestyle and start getting back into shape and, most importantly, healthier. I’m not going to lie; it’s been hard work at times, and now that the cold, dark mornings are here, it is still sometimes hard to get out of bed when the alarm goes off at 5.30 a.m. But all I think is, ‘These are the days that count’. You never feel bad afterwards for not doing a gym session, right? My treat to myself is to also have 10–15 minutes after my session in the sauna and steam room; this, in my head, is my reward.
Something I have spoken about in a previous blog is the
“Scientific Rules for Making & Breaking Habits in 2023!”
Rule 1: Stress is your puppet master
Rule 2: Know your Cues
Rule 3: Don’t focus on stopping bad habits; focus on breaking them
Rule 4: You need a better reason to quit
Rule 5: Willpower is not enough
Bonus rule number 6
I highly recommend listening to this podcast if you haven’t already. Here is the link:
I can honestly say it has been one of the best decisions I have made. I recall looking at a picture of myself whilst on holiday with the family 2 years ago, thinking I looked overweight and tired, and I was, to be frank, disgusted at the picture and that I had let myself get so out of shape! I can use the excuses that work, kids, and life got in the way, but I needed to be honest with myself, and the honest answer was that I wasn’t taking care of myself. I felt selfish towards myself, my wife, and my kids. I have a responsibility to be as healthy as possible for myself and them.
For the first year, I had a brilliant PT in Liam Holder, who I will always be grateful to for giving me the advice and tools I needed at the start of this journey.
Click here to check him out if you are looking to get started on your fitness journey
Once a week, Liam helped me focus on getting back on track, helping me set a plan and answer my multiple stupid questions. It was very clear from the start that making a positive change is not a quick fix; it needs to be a balance that ensures you are not restricted from living life and ensuring that I achieve my goals day by day. Basically, it needed to become a lifestyle change.
We focused on little wins, which really fit well with my personality (I do love a KPI!). We agreed on a clear plan around my body composition, basically aiming to build muscle and lose body fat. This over time led to tracking my calories, which focused on natural whole foods and high protein (which I have spoken about previously). It was amazing how your brain changes regarding not wanting to eat ‘fast food’ and ultra-processed foods. By having the calorie app, you really do look at what you are putting into your body before making the decision. Fast forward to today, and I feel it is a lifestyle. I am still working towards my daily, weekly, and monthly goals at a pace that feels right. This time of year is always harder due to a lot of client lunches and Christmas events, but for me, it’s about making the time to still fit in a gym session.
I have found that I like to get my gym sessions done early in the morning. I find it helps me clear my mind and gives me focus for the day; it also means it doesn’t impact work/family life. I am still training a minimum 5 times a week and continue to push my cardio, doing at least 2 sessions that are heavy weight sessions to fail to really shock my body, along with getting C150–200 grammes of protein a day, but also making sure I get the balance right to enjoy life.
I am still not where I want to be, but I see that as a good attitude to have. I saw a great quote that simply said, “Be proud, but never satisfied”.
I am currently halfway through listening to ‘Ultra-Processed People’ by Chris Van Tulleken.
This book is making me rethink a lot about what I am feeding my kids. Things that I thought were healthy, it seems, may not be the case at all! I highly recommend reading this book if you haven’t already.
This is an eye-opening investigation into the science, economics, history, and production of ultra-processed food.
It’s not you; it’s the food.
We have entered a new age of eating where most of our calories come from an entirely novel set of substances called Ultra Processed Food (UPF), food that is industrially processed and designed and marketed to be addictive. But do we really know what it is doing to our bodies?
5 Ways to Identify Ultra-Processed Foods – This will blow your mind!
The Nova Food Classification System – This gives you an indication of what foods are Ultra Processed Foods.
