The Freedom Project

S3E49: How To Respond To Challenge & Create Freedom w/ Neil Laughton

Life either happens to you, or for you.

In Neil Laughton’s case, he chose the latter.

I say chose, because what could have been setbacks were turned into the events that made him the man he is today.

That is our constant choice. The ability to lean into life as the adventure it is.

Not something to be shied away from, or resisted, but embraced.

It’s that willingness to lean into, and engage with our apparent mishaps that transform them from adversity into teaching.

Neil has applied this approach to the two areas which we love learning about on the freedom project podcast, adventure, and business.

Through these, he has created freedom.

Neil Laughton is a successful business entrepreneur, multiple Guinness World Record breaking adventurer, former Royal Marines Commando, helicopter pilot and Special Forces Officer.

During a varied business career he founded companies in property development, construction, commercial interiors and office furniture, which were bought by a FTSE 100 in 2011.

Since then Neil has focused on helping business leaders become more inspirational and their teams to deliver exceptional performance. He is the CEO of Laughton & Co Ltd, Director of Floating Developments Ltd, Founder of the Penny Farthing Club and Vice-President of the charity Scientific Exploration Society.

Neil has a passion for travel, sport and adventure. He has organised and led more than 50 expeditions on 7 continents – by land, sea and air. He summited Mt Everest with Bear Grylls, circumnavigated the UK & Ireland on a jet ski and he piloted the world’s first road legal flying car on a 10,000 km journey from London to Timbuktu and across the Sahara Desert.

You have a tonne to learn from this guy, so here is Neil Laughton

S3E48: The Mountain Athlete Physio, Don Lesar: 5 Essential Exercises For Mountain Athletes

Physios, just like climbing coaches, chefs, bankers, and hell, even adventurepreneurs, aren’t all made of equal quality.

Some are stuck in techniques of the 1980s. Others are on the bleeding edge of the most advanced research.

Some are uncaring and impersonal. Others are highly personal and connect with you.

So how do you tell the difference?

And what should you look out for?

Particularly as a mountain athlete.

Today, on The Freedom Project, I interview the mountain athlete physio, Don Lesar. Don is a Co-Founder of The Movement, a multidisciplinary performance rehab clinic in Ontario, Canada.

Don also works very closely with Arc-teryx athletes in a unique capacity.

In other words, he knows his shit.

In this episode, we will cover:

 

• How to tell a great physio from a waste of money
• The greatest BS you’ve been told about physio for mountain athletes
• Don’s 5 essential exercises for mountain athletes
• And a whole lot more
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S3E47: 10 Years Ago I Was a Complete Failure

From Despair to Determination: A Decade of Transformation

Ten years ago, I was a broken man, standing in a job centre, completely broke and filled with false pride. This moment marked the beginning of a remarkable journey of self-discovery and transformation. Fast forward to eight years ago, I took a bold step by investing in a gym, a decision that was less about finances and more about exploring my identity. Around the same time, I fasted under the guise of health and self-challenge, masking the harsh reality that I couldn't afford food.

The Turning Points: Achievements and Adventures

Significant milestones marked my path to self-improvement. Seven years ago, earning the green beret of the Royal Marines Commando reshaped my self-view, instilling a belief in my capability for success. Moving to Canada four years later, I discovered a profound connection with the mountains, realising a key part of my identity. The pinnacle of this journey was marrying the love of my life, who stood by me through every hurdle, proving that support is essential for growth.

S3E46: How To Use Adventure To Transform Yourself w/ Charlie Walker: Lessons From The Wilds

When asked why risk it all to be the first person to climb Everest, George Mallory responded with a mysterious answer that speaks to so many explorers, adventurers, and mountaineers.

“Because it is there.”

There’s something in many of us adventurers, that looks at the magnificent peak as a writer looks at the blank page.

It is just beckoning to be explored, to bear witness to our striving and creativity. A blank canvas to hone our soul.

Journeys too, illogical and unnecessary, kindle a flame in our heart; an ancient, mythical call to adventure.

But why?

Honestly, I’m unsure.

I believe that if someone asks, they will never truly understand.

Personally speaking, adventure provides me with the opportunity to slay my personal dragons, to tap into the attributes that lie in reserve, and to connect to something more real than reality itself.

It’s a psychedelic trip without the exogenous substance.

In today’s conversation with adventurer, author, and speaker, Charlie Walker, you learn the lessons from someone who has spent years on adventurers that do all of the aforementioned.

You’ll also discover:

• How not to lose your mind if you’re locked up in a Russian prison on charges of espionage
• What personality traits Charlie wishes he could keep that vanish when he’s home from adventures
• The ubiquitous character who found Charlie in every single corner of the world
• How to plan adventures that transform your soul
  
  

S3E45: The Balance of Self-Sacrifice in Building A Business & Creating Freedom w/ Don Armand

Your family, your clients, even your dog. If you give to those around you without expectation of reciprocation, your life will be meaningful and eventually, you will be rewarded.

Fail to look after yourself though and you never be able to give fully.

Whether you’re building a business, nurturing your family, or leading a polar expedition, mastering the balance of prioritising your greatest asset, you, with service of others, is key.

Many fall short of this optimal balance. Their life will suffer as a result.

Today, with ex-England international rugby player turned entrepreneur, Don Armand, we explore what that balance looks like.

Here’s what we’re going to cover:

• Unlock the Secrets of Ubuntu: Dive into an ancient African philosophy that unveils surprising ways to simplify and enrich your life journey.
  
  
• Discover The Hidden Cost of Pro Sports: Explore the unexpected ways a professional sports career can shape and sometimes limit personal growth in unforeseen ways.
  
  
• Transforming Adversity into Strength: Discover how embracing positivity can turn life's toughest challenges into inspiring stories of hope and resilience.
  
  
• Facing the Storm: Lessons in Resilience: Uncover the profound lessons of hope and perseverance learned from surviving intense political turmoil and life-altering events.
  
  
• Lead by Growing Yourself: Learn the art of becoming a more impactful leader by prioritising your own personal growth and how it can uplift those around you.

Here’s a great conversation with the one and only Don Armand.

S3E44: Rewilding Your Life: Nature’s Unusual Tools To Be The Best Version Of You w/ Nick Goldsmith

Returning from his sixth overseas deployment in seven years, Nick Goldsmith hit rock bottom.

Complex PTSD consumed Nick’s life.

He used traditional forms of therapy that were provided by the military, but they didn’t fully provide what he needed.

Rewilding himself gave him a pathway to connect with a more authentic version of himself.

His woodland gave him the opportunity not just to reconnect, but to give to others who were pursuing their own mental health.

Over the years, Nick has become a wilderness survival consultant, author, businessman and speaker.

In today's conversation, you can expect to learn:

• What a circular business model means to Nick
• Nick’s foundation of mental health that you can find in nature
• What today’s way of living is doing to ruin your quality of life
• What nature will provide you that traditional mental performance models cannot

S3E43: The SECRET To Having EVERYTHING You Ever Wanted

Addressing a group of open-minded men, I delivered what I believed was a compelling talk. From the outside, my life seemed perfect. I was a newlywed, a successful entrepreneur, a former Royal Marines commando, a skilled outdoorsman, and a dog owner. However, beneath this veneer of success, I was grappling with deep-rooted imposter syndrome and a persistent sense of emptiness.

Despite my external achievements, I felt misaligned. My mental fitness was strong, yet I felt off-track, like a train slightly derailed. This inner turmoil came to a head during my honeymoon, where I found myself sobbing uncontrollably. It wasn't mental illness driving this breakdown, but a profound misalignment with my life's direction.

S3E42: Building Your Passion Business & Total Freedom w/ Stella Kamba

The death of a parent and a friend pointing out that you need to get a life. You wouldn’t elect for these two things if you had that choice.

But these two things proved to be turning points in Stella Kamba’s life.

She lived the corporate life and was excellent at it. But something nagged at her to do something more aligned with her true self.

That thing was to start More Life Adventures; a business providing adventurous fitness holidays for busy people.

Stella has been on a massive journey of transformation, and in this conversation, Stella and I discuss…

• The details of her growth as that person
• The obstacles she has faced in her journey and how she overcame them
• What it’s like to take that big step
• How her mindset has shifted along the way
  
  

It’s been a privilege to work with Stella on just a small part of this journey. My hope is that you can use this as a jumping off point to move to your next level as an adventurepreneur.

If you’re interested in levelling up as an Adventurepreneur, I offer a handful of free adventurepreneur assessments each month where we can discuss what your next level looks like and how to attain that.

To see if you qualify for a free adventurepreneur assessment, head to my instagram profile @tomfoxley and send me the word "adventurepreneur".

S3E41: The Perfect Freedom:Business Ratio w/ Mike Douglas

Meet the godfather of freeskiing - Mike Douglas.

Mike - alongside a handful of others - reinvented ski technology and therefore the future of skiing itself.

After being instrumental in the creation of the twin tip ski that unlocked a completely different style of skiing, then becoming a mainstay of the pro skier scene, Mike turned his attention to creating ski films.

In doing so, he became an icon of winter sports.

He has gone on to produce ski films that do more than produce ski porn - pow shots and cliff drops.

Mike tells stories - beautiful stories that enrich the viewers experience of life through a broadened perspective.

Along the way, Mike has set up a production business, hired and disbanded teams, and produced genuinely world changing films.

All of this, he did whilst keeping his sense of adventure and maintaining his freedom.

In this episode you will learn:

• How to balance business ownership and adventure
• How Mike had to readjust his business through Covid
• The thrill of being vulnerable and how to embrace it
• How the flow state of business corresponds to the flow state of freeskiing
• Mike’s adventure bucketlist

S3E40: Setting The FKT Up & Down Mont Blanc w/ Iain Innes

What could possess a man to run the fastest known time from the base of the valley to the top of Mont Blanc and back?

The thrill of adventure, the unknown, and the chance to test oneself.

Iain Innes spent years making his way into professional ski racing.

Eventually he realised this wasn’t his journey, and took a step back from his life long goal.

Without this structure, Iain entered the unknown.

He found his way again through embracing adventure and discovering mountaineering, and mountain exploration.

Iain seeks freedom in all guises.

In this episode, you will discover:

• How Iain trains for these insane challenges without a training program to follow.
• The thrill of going solo and unsupported.
• How to handle difficult transition moments in life.
• How to satiate your desire for adventure when times are uncertain.