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How do you stay productive when you already have the discipline to get a lot done?That was the question Léo Ferreira brought into this episode of Ask Me Anything. But as we talked, it became clear that productivity wasn’t really the problem.Léo can execute. He can push through. And as an entrepreneur, he’s constantly looking for the next bottleneck to solve. Add AI to the mix, and his capacity to turn ideas into action becomes even greater.So the question changes:How do you go from being productive to being effective?Because when you can do almost anything, deciding what deserves your time becomes more important than simply getting more done.In this episodeWe explore what happens when productivity itself starts creating new problems.Léo shares a real example from his business. He needed more appointments, so he hired ten setters. It worked—fast. But solving that bottleneck immediately exposed the next one: there weren’t enough closing slots. Solve that, and onboarding becomes the problem. Then potentially delivery.It led us to an important distinction: growth isn’t only about removing constraints. It’s also about controlling the amount of pressure you put on the system.Sometimes you need to open the fire hose gradually.From there, we move into the personal side of high performance: understanding when your brain does its best work, designing your week around your actual energy, changing your routines as your business moves through different seasons, and creating enough white space to think.We also challenge one of the most common pieces of productivity advice: just be more disciplined and consistent.That advice is useful when you quit too quickly. But what if your problem is the opposite? What if you keep doing something long after the evidence suggests you should stop? In that case, effectiveness requires knowing what success looks like, setting a timeframe for an experiment, measuring the results, and being willing to quit.Key ideas we explore Why productivity and effectiveness are not the same thing How AI makes selection and prioritization more important Finding the real bottleneck instead of automatically doing more Why rapid growth can create unnecessary complexity Creating space to think before turning the volume back up Self-awareness as the foundation for designing your own productivity system Matching deep work to your energy and cognitive capacity Changing your weekly template as your business enters different seasons Discipline versus flexibility Consistency versus knowing when to stop Why saying no may become one of the most important skills in the AI ageChapters00:00 — Introducing Ask Me Anything with Léo Ferreira02:15 — Léo’s productivity challenge04:33 — From doing more to becoming more effective06:55 — Clarity, priorities and what your business actually needs08:21 — What to do with all your ideas11:38 — Léo’s real-life business growth problem16:06 — Why uncontrolled growth creates new bottlenecks17:32 — Slow down and create space to think20:24 — Avoid building a business you never intended to create23:52 — Are you solving the right constraint?28:00 — “Think both”: holding two truths at once30:15 — Self-awareness, self-knowledge and personal leadership38:18 — Designing your week around priorities and energy42:22 — Why you shouldn’t blindly copy productivity frameworks45:09 — Build seasons, launch seasons and changing your schedule48:47 — Structure without becoming trapped by your calendar50:01 — Do you need more discipline—or more flexibility?52:33 — How to know when you’ve persisted for too long55:27 — Sometimes you should stop being consistent57:01 — Léo’s biggest takeaways58:32 — The fire-hose approach to controlled growth59:43 — Creating space and saying no in the AI age01:00:45 — Closing thoughts and how to join a future AMAMentioned in the conversationBooks discussed include Deep Work by Cal Newport, The ONE Thing, Getting Things Done, and High Performance Habits. Andrew Huberman is also mentioned in the discussion about cognitive performance throughout the day.Want to join a future AMA?Have a question about personal development, entrepreneurship, productivity or high performance that you’d like to explore with me?Submit your question hereYou might be my next guest on Ask Me Anything.About Maxyourlife.todayMaxyourlife.today an ecosystem for high performers who want to get the best out of life in all areas that matter. You find interviews, podcasts, tools, and more here.

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The habit that energises you one morning may create more stress the next.Running, meditation, extra sleep and cold exposure can all have a place in a morning routine. But their effect depends on your current state, natural rhythm, responsibilities and season of life.Shorombo Mooij explores this with Anna Steinzeig, who has a background in neuroscience and works as a speaker and consultant in workplace performance and wellbeing.They discuss:👉 how to recognise your natural chronotype without relying on genetic testing;👉 why designing your morning often begins with your evening;👉 what family life, travel and changing daylight do to your routine;👉 when exercise or cold exposure may add activation you do not need;👉 how to distinguish ordinary habit resistance from a signal that your body needs something different;👉 why flexible categories work better than rigid rituals;👉 how a morning routine can support performance without turning your life into a performance project.The deeper question is not whether you have the “right” routine.It is whether your routine supports the person you are and the life you are living now.Chapters00:00 — High performance as a human being01:22 — Are you really a morning person?04:26 — How to recognise your natural chronotype07:34 — Why your morning starts the evening before09:35 — When real life conflicts with your ideal rhythm13:21 — How rigid schedules create more stress18:39 — Parenting, personal time and imperfect routines23:37 — Daylight, seasons and the internal clock28:02 — What do you need this particular morning?31:10 — When running or cold exposure may be too much33:15 — Your routine should change with your season39:21 — Why humans are not high-output computers47:38 — Flexible frameworks instead of fixed rituals54:38 — Sending your brain the signal that you are safe58:48 — Why your morning should also be enjoyable01:00:48 — Performance should support a good lifeLinksMore about meWebsite: https://www.shorombomooij.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shorombo/Substack: https://maxyourlifetoday.substack.com/More about AnnaLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/asteinzeig/

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How to Use AI Without Losing Yourself — With Meagan KlaijCan AI help us become better humans—or could it slowly weaken our creativity, critical thinking, and independence?In this episode, high-performance coach Shorombo Mooij speaks with Meagan Klaij, Agentic AI Solutions Architect at Microsoft, about using artificial intelligence intentionally, responsibly, and in a way that genuinely improves your life.About this seriesShorombo Mooij is a high-performance coach who helps ambitious people design their lives in a way that allows them to reach their full potential while creating a life that genuinely fulfills them.His mission is to help people take greater ownership of their time, focus, energy, personal growth, and overall quality of life. At the heart of his work is one central question:How do you get the best out of yourself and your life?In How to Thrive in Life in the Age of AI, Shorombo explores how artificial intelligence is changing the way we think, work, create, learn, and live.Through conversations with experts, builders, thinkers, and intentional individuals, the podcast investigates how we can use AI to enhance our lives without losing the things that truly matter—our creativity, critical thinking, relationships, well-being, autonomy, and humanity.What You’ll LearnDuring this episode we explore the human side of AI: personal growth, mental health, growth mindset, privacy, creativity, behavioral change, and the importance of taking responsibility for your own development.You will also learn why the most important AI transformation does not begin with better technology. It begins with the person using it.How AI can support self-reflection, journaling, and personal growthWhy personalized AI can become an echo chamberHow better questions lead to more valuable AI answersWhy a growth mindset is essential when learning AIHow the ADKAR framework supports lasting behavioral changeWhy intentional AI use matters more than maximum productivityHow AI can strengthen creativity while also weakening human skillsWhy privacy, AI literacy, and critical thinking are becoming essentialHow to take responsibility for your own AI educationEpisode SummaryMeagan works at the intersection of artificial intelligence, human behavior, and change management. Although her role at Microsoft is technical, her main interest is helping people understand, adopt, and use AI responsibly.She explains how AI can help people reflect on their habits, identity, thoughts, and mental well-being. However, Shorombo points out that an AI assistant can also become an echo chamber that simply confirms what you already believe.This leads to a deeper conversation about questioning. Prompting is not only a technical skill—it is a thinking skill. The quality of the answers you receive depends heavily on the clarity, context, and depth of the questions you ask.Meagan also explains the difference between a fixed mindset and a growth mindset. Because AI is developing too quickly for anyone to master completely, the goal is not to know every tool. The goal is to remain curious, experiment, and learn through repetition.Using the ADKAR change-management framework, they explore the five stages of successful change:Awareness — understanding why change is necessaryDesire — identifying what the change offers you personallyKnowledge — learning what you need to knowAbility — applying that knowledge in practiceReinforcement — making the new behavior stickThe conversation also becomes personal. Meagan discusses imposter syndrome, technical learning challenges, and privacy concerns when using consumer AI tools.Shorombo shares how AI helped him turn ideas into polished articles—but also reduced his patience for writing when he introduced it too early in the creative process.The lesson: do not only ask whether you should use AI. Ask where, when, and why you want to use it.Timestamps00:00 Introduction: Thriving in the age of AI01:52 Meagan’s role at Microsoft and the human side of AI05:48 Responsible AI and the skills humans need07:48 Will AI make people less intelligent?11:37 Using AI for mental health and self-reflection16:09 The danger of AI echo chambers18:30 Why better questions create better answers19:43 Why everyone needs AI literacy24:25 Moving from a business background into AI26:42 Fixed mindset versus growth mindset29:58 Why you do not need to master AI35:44 Active and passive resistance to change36:01 The ADKAR framework explained42:32 Imposter syndrome and personal AI challenges44:37 Privacy and consumer AI tools46:30 Deepfakes and AI-generated misinformation47:43 Awareness and intentional AI use49:42 How AI can weaken the creative process54:12 Responsible AI and technical safeguards55:39 Why we need to upgrade the human using AI58:40 Can governments keep pace with AI?01:04:02 Taking responsibility for your AI education01:07:47 Final thoughtsAbout Meagan KlaijMeagan Klaij is an Agentic AI Solutions Architect at Microsoft. Her background includes international business, languages, sales, change management, and AI transformation.Her work focuses on helping organizations and individuals understand, adopt, and use AI in a responsible and human-centered way.Resources MentionedAtomic Habits by James ClearA book about behavioral change, identity-based habits, and the power of small, consistent improvements.Mindset by Carol DweckAn exploration of fixed and growth mindsets and how our beliefs about ability affect learning and development.RosebudAn AI-supported journaling and reflection application discussed during the episode.ADKAR by ProsciA change-management framework based on Awareness, Desire, Knowledge, Ability, and Reinforcement.Connect With the GuestsShorombo Mooijhttps://www.shorombomooij.comMeagan Klaijhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/meaganklaijContinue the ConversationWhich human skill do you want to preserve as AI becomes more capable?Listen to the full conversation, follow the show for future episodes, and share this episode with someone who wants to use AI without losing the things that make life meaningful.Apply to be a guest:https://www.maxyourlife.today/invite-ai-to-thrive-live-interview

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As he prepared to build another company, Joey Hayes realised that ambition alone would not be enough. The harder question was whether he could become more focused and disciplined without losing the social, energetic life that made him who he was.For a long time, Joey Hayes believed he should be able to figure it out himself.He had built a career, developed a strong network and was preparing to start another company. He is the kind of person people naturally gravitate towards: social, energetic and good at creating real relationships. One of his former managers at Booking.com used to tell him that he could be tougher in difficult negotiations than she could, simply because people liked him.But there was another side to that energy.“My mind was always moving,” Hayes says. “There were always a million things and a million ideas bouncing around.”At the end of the year, with a new entrepreneurial chapter ahead of him, he reached a point where the old approach no longer felt sustainable. “I wanted to take more control of myself, my habits, my actions,” he says. “I thought I could do it on my own. But then I realised I always think that way.”The question became unavoidable: was he going to make a genuine shift, or keep repeating the same pattern with more pressure attached to it?“I was about to start another company,” he says. “I didn’t want it to go like the last one did. I knew I had to change something to be successful, but I wasn’t really sure what.”The fear behind disciplineFor many ambitious people, the resistance to structure is not laziness. It is identity.Hayes did not simply worry about whether coaching would work. He worried about what it might turn him into. Would more structure mean becoming rigid, overly serious, less spontaneous? Would getting his life together cost him the parts of himself he actually enjoyed?“I had this weird fear that my personality would change,” he says. “Not necessarily that I would become a worse person. Just different.”It is a familiar tension among founders, high performers and people with highly active minds. They want more focus, better health and greater consistency. But they do not want to trade their freedom, creativity or social life for a perfectly optimised existence.“I didn’t think I could continue to enjoy my life and get my s**t together at the same time,” Hayes says. “I’m still figuring it out. But where I stand now, I realise I can have a really active social life, have a lot of fun and still be a high operator.”That realisation changed the premise entirely.The goal was not to become a different Joey. It was to create conditions in which the best parts of Joey—his energy, relationships and ambition—could work together rather than compete.Small changes, real consequencesThe changes themselves were not dramatic. No extreme morning regime. No life built around deprivation.Instead, Hayes started with practical shifts: planning the next day before going to sleep, identifying one real priority, writing down ideas instead of acting on them immediately and paying more attention to how his body and energy affected his decisions.“Planning the day before was something I never did,” he says. “I used to wake up and think, ‘Ah, what am I doing today?’ Just waking up and understanding what my day was going to look like made a difference.”He also had to reassess the belief that doing many things at once was a strength.“I thought it was a superpower to do a million things at once,” he says. “And I still do a lot. But now I’m able to prioritise what is important right now, instead of getting super distracted by things that don’t have value in the moment.”There were physical changes too. Hayes reduced his coffee intake from six to eight cups a day to two. He adjusted his exercise habits and began treating sleep, movement and recovery as useful information rather than inconvenient interruptions.“Now I sleep like a normal person,” he laughs.The point was not to follow a universal routine. It was to become more aware of what worked for him: when to push, when to walk, when to train and when to slow down.More than productivityIt would be easy to frame Hayes’s story as one of improved productivity. That would also miss the point.“The company has gone really well,” he says. “But my physical health has also gotten significantly better. I have much more space to think. I’m much better at prioritising things. I make more time for important relationships in my life.”He has also found a more workable rhythm between his full-time role and the startup he is building.Those outcomes are connected. Greater focus is not merely about getting more done; it reduces the background noise of an overloaded life. When every idea, task and opportunity demands immediate attention, even a productive person can live in a constant state of internal agitation.The work, Hayes says, helped make his life more intentional without making it smaller.“I expected it to be more regimented—super strict,” he says. “But it was really at my own pace, while still holding myself accountable and being held accountable.”That distinction matters. There is a difference between borrowing someone else’s discipline and building a way of operating you can actually sustain. The former may produce a short burst of change. The latter gradually becomes part of how you make decisions.Building without losing yourselfHayes’s story is not a before-and-after fantasy. He is explicit that he is still figuring things out. But his baseline has changed.The person who once assumed he had to carry everything alone now sees support as part of serious personal and professional development. The person who feared that discipline would erase his identity has discovered that the right structure can protect it.“I think it takes the support of a professional to really make that change,” he says. “Especially if you’ve already been having that conversation with yourself.”For people entering a bigger chapter—starting a company, changing careers, building a team or simply recognising that their current way of living cannot carry their ambitions indefinitely—that may be the more useful question.Not: How do I force myself to become more productive?But: What needs to change in the design of my life for my ambition, health, relationships and attention to stop fighting each other?Hayes has found his own answer in a life that is more structured but not narrower; more focused but not less alive.And perhaps that is the real promise of sustainable high performance: not becoming someone else, but becoming more capable of being yourself—consistently.Are you at this crossroad too?If you recognize this tension in your own life or business and would love to have a chat about how I can help you, you can schedule a free strategy call here. Just answer a few questions and see if you are eligible.Schedule your strategy call here.

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In this conversation, Shorombo Mooij and neuroscientist Anna Steinzeig explore how AI is changing not only how we work, but also how we think, focus, create and connect.Their central conclusion is simple:AI is an instrument, but repeated use of that instrument also trains the person using it.Used intentionally, AI can strengthen creativity, accelerate learning and help people bring ideas into the world. Used carelessly, it can weaken independent thinking, shorten attention spans, reinforce biases, overstimulate the nervous system and replace real human interaction.The goal is therefore not to avoid AI, but to remain conscious of what we outsource, what we continue practising ourselves and what kind of person our AI habits are shaping us into.A conversation about AI, performance and what it means to stay humanShorombo opened the conversation by explaining the idea behind his new video series, How to Thrive in the Age of AI.The intention is not simply to talk about tools, productivity or automation. It is to explore how people can use AI to improve their lives without losing sight of the things that make life meaningful.He described himself as optimistic about the opportunities of the current age. AI is creating possibilities that would have been almost unimaginable only a few years ago.At the same time, he sees an enormous personal risk.If people use these tools without awareness, AI may not only change their work. It may change their relationship with attention, creativity, effort, human connection and even themselves.That was why he invited Anna Steinzeig, a human neuroscientist specialising in human performance, to join him.Anna added that her work is not limited to neuroscience. She also draws from psychology and system psychodynamics.Her mission, she explained, is to bridge the gap between what science knows and what ordinary people can actually apply in their daily lives.She also wanted to clarify what she means by performance.For Anna, performance is not about achieving at any cost. It should go hand in hand with happiness and satisfaction.She described it as a kind of performance that you do not constantly need to recover from.Shorombo immediately recognised this as close to his own philosophy of aligned performance.High performance, he said, should not be about appearing successful to the outside world or becoming productive for the sake of productivity.The real game is life.For ambitious people, creating and building may be an important part of happiness. But when performance leads to burnout, the point has been missed.From there, the conversation moved to the central question:What is AI doing to us?The problem did not begin with AIAnna first widened the frame.She argued that AI cannot be understood separately from the broader technological and informational environment in which people already live.The problem began before generative AI.We were already living in an age of information abundance and attention scarcity.Anna recalled that when she was young, her parents sometimes struggled to find a book they wanted to read. Books were shared among friends, and people waited their turn.Today, the situation is almost reversed.There is more information available than anyone could consume in a lifetime.Books, articles, videos, podcasts and social media compete continuously for attention.AI multiplies this abundance because people no longer even need to search in the way they once did.Instead of going to a library, comparing sources or browsing the internet, they can simply ask a question and receive an immediate answer.According to Anna, that ease changes the problem from access to agency.The question is no longer:“Can I find the information?”It is:“Who decides what receives my attention?”She described modern life as part of an attention economy in which companies compete to capture, hold and monetise human focus.AI adds another layer because it is increasingly present throughout the working day.For many founders, creators and professionals, it is not merely entertainment.It is becoming part of how they think and work.Attention directs neuroplasticityThe conversation then moved into neuroplasticity.Anna explained that neuroplasticity is the brain’s ability to adapt, learn and change.Children absorb a great deal almost automatically. Adult brains are more established, which means change generally requires greater direction.For adults, Anna said, two elements are especially important:attention and intention.Attention tells the brain what matters.Intention helps determine the desired direction of development.Shorombo summarised this as the need to be intentional with what we repeatedly focus on.Anna agreed, but added an important warning:Plasticity happens whether we direct it or not.Change is not automatically positive.People are continuously reinforcing some pathways while allowing others to weaken.The question is therefore not whether the brain is changing.The question is:Who is sitting behind the steering wheel?This became one of the most important themes of the interview.Every repeated interaction with AI becomes a form of training.When someone uses AI to enhance a capability, it may support growth.When someone uses it to replace a capability, that capability may gradually weaken.The difference between enhancing and outsourcingShorombo then raised the distinction between shaping professional capabilities and outsourcing them.Becoming a better writer with the help of AI is not necessarily a problem.But relying on AI to do all the writing may be.The same applies to research, analysis, communication and idea generation.If people outsource the cognitive processes involved in these activities, they may also stop training critical human abilities.Shorombo connected this to his own experience.As someone with a highly active, ADHD-like brain, he naturally generates many ideas.When he first began using ChatGPT, the experience felt almost addictive.Before AI, an idea might remain in his mind for a while. He could let it develop, return to it later and eventually write about it.After AI became available, every idea could be expanded immediately.He could develop a concept at any time and in almost any place.At first, this felt extraordinary.He described it as a honeymoon phase.At one point, he found himself choosing between going out for drinks with someone and continuing to talk with ChatGPT.The choice felt easy.AI was always available and endlessly willing to explore whatever topic interested him.It could follow him down intellectual rabbit holes without becoming distracted or bored.But eventually, he noticed that the experience was changing him.When every idea becomes urgentShorombo began to feel anxious.An idea no longer felt like something that could simply exist.Every idea created an urge to do something with it immediately.His nervous system seemed to be learning a new command:Now. Explore it now. Develop it now. Turn it into something now.Instead of allowing ideas to mature, he felt compelled to process them instantly.That was when he realised he was training his brain to become more dependent on stimulation and immediate action.Anna responded that this pattern resembles the underlying structure of addiction.The mechanisms may differ in intensity, but repeated behaviour combined with reward creates stronger habits.AI is especially compelling because it communicates in a human-like way.It listens, responds and frequently affirms.It may tell the user that an idea is brilliant or insightful.For someone who lacks intellectually engaging conversations in everyday life, this can be extremely attractive.Shorombo explained that superficial social interaction had never interested him much.Casual Friday drinks and conversations “about nothing” were difficult for him.AI offered the opposite.It could provide continuous intellectual stimulation, reflection and novelty.For his brain, that was far more rewarding than scrolling through social media.Why AI can become so compellingAnna connected this to loneliness.People are increasingly isolated, while AI offers something that resembles constant companionship.It is always ready to listen to fears, ambitions and ideas.It does not reject the user, become impatient or require emotional reciprocity.That can make it unusually easy to prefer the digital interaction over the human one.The reward system also plays a role.AI can provide answers, stimulation and progress immediately.A question produces an answer.An idea produces ten new ideas.A concept becomes a plan, video or article.This creates very short reward loops.Later in the conversation, Anna explained that dopamine is important not only for immediate pleasure but also for sustaining action toward future rewards.When people continuously train themselves to expect reward now, activities that require patience and long-term effort can become harder.Building a business, mastering a craft, developing a relationship or writing something meaningful still requires uncertainty, repetition and delayed gratification.AI can accelerate parts of the process.But it cannot make depth instant.The quiet dystopian version of AIShorombo asked Anna to describe what might happen if someone used AI in exactly the wrong way.What would the personal dystopian version look like?Anna started with writing.When people fully outsource their writing, they may lose more than the ability to formulate sentences.They may lose an important instrument for thinking.Writing forces people to structure ideas, notice contradictions and clarify what they believe.Shorombo agreed strongly with this.Anna then moved to critical thinking.When AI provides an answer, the user should still ask:* Where did this information come from?* What is the source?* Is there evidence that contradicts it?* What assumptions are being made?* How certain is the conclusion?* What in

What Is This?This is the first episode of my Ask Me Anything: High Performance Series — a live session where I answer the real questions ambitious entrepreneurs and high performers struggle with.Questions like:* How do I stop defaulting to work?* Why can’t I switch my brain off?* How do I build habits that actually stick?* Is work-life balance even realistic for people like us?If you’re driven, ambitious, and wired for growth — but don’t want success at the cost of your health or happiness — this is for you.In this episode, I break down the mindset and framework behind what I call a High Performance Lifestyle — and why most high achievers burn out not because they work too hard… but because they think about performance the wrong way.TL;DRIf you only take one thing from this:Your lifestyle is not separate from your success.It is the foundation of it.High performers who burn out believe:“I have to sacrifice my lifestyle to win.”High performers who thrive believe:“My lifestyle is what allows me to win.”The difference isn’t motivation.It’s mindset.And mindset shapes decisions.Decisions shape habits.Habits shape results.The Hidden Trap of AmbitionMost people aren’t like us.They don’t obsess over growth.They don’t spend evenings researching investments.They don’t wake up thinking about expansion.We do.But that drive comes with a risk.If you don’t consciously design your lifestyle, your ambition will consume it.I learned that the hard way.Years ago, I worked in banking.Overweight. Smoking. Miserable.Completely out of alignment.Eventually, I burned out. Hard.And what I discovered during that period changed everything:You cannot outperform a misaligned life.I didn’t need more discipline.I needed alignment.Within months, I rebuilt everything — my health, my habits, my direction, my career.And that’s where High Performance Lifestyle Coaching was born.What a High Performance Lifestyle Actually MeansThis is not hustle culture.It’s not 18-hour workdays.It’s not “rise and grind.”It’s a framework for designing your life in a way that supports:* Physical health* Mental clarity* Emotional stability* Financial freedom* Meaningful connection* Sustainable performanceThink like an athlete.An athlete doesn’t just train harder.They recover better.Entrepreneurs should do the same.When you start believing that:* Taking a walk increases productivity* Protecting your sleep protects your income* Planning your week protects your peaceYou begin making different decisions.And that’s where everything shifts.Questions I Answer in This EpisodeIn the full session, I go deeper into:* How to prioritize life when you default to work* Why your brain won’t switch off (and how to fix it)* Why you keep falling back into habits* How to create immediate space for workouts, relationships, and recoveryPlus, I give you one question to sit with:What is the one thing you will implement starting today?Not five.Not a life overhaul.One.Then make it practical.Put it in your calendar.Make it real.Watch the Full EpisodeIf this resonates, I highly recommend watching the full session above.It’s 40 minutes that may completely shift how you think about:* Productivity* Success* Discipline* Freedom* BalanceAnd if you want to go deeper, I also share how to access my free masterclass where I break down the full framework I use with clients.You don’t need to lower your ambition.You need a structure strong enough to carry it.Watch the episode.And then tell me:What’s the one shift you’re committing to this week?

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TL;DRAan het einde van het jaar heb je twee keuzes: je laat je meeslepen door kerstborrels, deadlines en oliebollen, óf je gebruikt deze weken om bewust stil te staan, terug te kijken en een visie te creëren voor het nieuwe jaar.In deze korte solo-AMA deelt Shorombo zijn eigen eindejaarsroutine: een simpel maar krachtig end of year protocol waarmee je je jaar evalueert, je leven langs een paar duidelijke domeinen legt (gezondheid, relaties, persoonlijke ontwikkeling, carrière, financiële situatie) en een intentievolle visie maakt voor het komende jaar.Beluister deze aflevering en leer hoe jij in 5 stappen je voorbereid op je beste jaar ooit!

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In mijn AMA-serie nodig ik regelmatig iemand uit die mij goede vragen stelt – vragen die niet alleen interessant zijn voor henzelf, maar ook voor veel anderen. Vaak zijn dit ondernemers of ondernemende mensen die tegen dezelfde uitdagingen aanlopen als mijn klanten. Dit keer sprak ik met Jiri, een voormalige top-man bij Heineken die ik via via hebben leren kennen. Bereid je voor op een bijzonder gesprek over een leven in de allerhoogste top van het bedrijfsleven, naar een nieuwe missie om high performers meer te helpen te leven en leiden vanuit hun échte waardes.TL;DRIn deze AMA spreken Shorombo Mooij en Jiri (ex-marketing executive bij Heineken, oprichter van Few Good Men) over de vraag: “Wat heb je nodig om je volle potentieel te leven?” De rode draad: herdefinieer succes op jouw voorwaarden, bouw van macro → micro (van levensvisie naar dagelijkse gewoontes), en geef verbinding en tribe bewust een plek—zeker in je “tweede helft van het leven”. Jiri beschrijft zijn verschuiving van ego-gedreven presteren naar zorgend leiderschap en belonging; Shorombo deelt hoe groei (blijvend nieuwe kanten van jezelf ontgrendelen) én sociale verbinding essentieel zijn om gemotiveerd, kalm en vervuld te blijven.De context* Gast: Jiri — voormalig marketing executive (Heineken), nu oprichter van Few Good Men, een initiatief dat mannen door midlife begeleidt richting een betekenisvolle “tweede helft”.* Host/coach: Shorombo Mooij (Maxyourlife.today)* De centrale vraag: “What do you think one needs to live their full potential?”—waarbij het gesprek al snel gaat over het herdefiniëren van succes, zelfkennis, dagelijkse lifestyle en het belang van courage en community in transities.Het verhaal in vogelvlucht* Van ladder naar kompas. Veel high performers klimmen jaren tegen de “verkeerde muur” omdat hun definitie van succes onbewust is overgenomen. De omslag begint met de vraag: wat betekent succes voor míj, nu?* Macro → micro. Shorombo laat zien hoe je van een persoonlijke definitie (“mijn droomleven”) terugredeneert naar dagelijkse rituelen (o.a. vroeg opstaan, meditatie, bewegen) die je energie, helderheid en kalmte geven.* Jiri’s draai. Na jaren ego-gedreven presteren (een “harnas van arrogantie” dat al op jonge leeftijd ontstond) kiest Jiri voor het pad van caring: een betrokken partner, vader en leider zijn. Dat vraagt moed, rouw en het loslaten van oude patronen.* Tweede helft = belonging. In de eerste helft bouw je status en zekerheid; in de tweede helft wil je thuishoren—bij je partner, je tribe en “iets groters”. Dan valt de bewijsdrang weg en komt er rust.* Woorden voor gevoel. Mannen worstelen vaak met taal voor emoties; Jiri werkt in zijn programma’s met begrippen (zoals “original trauma”) om het gesprek hierover te openen en heling mogelijk te maken.Kerninzichten & praktische takeaways1) Definieer je persoonlijke succesformule* Stel twee vragen: Wat is mijn definitie van succes? en Waarom wil ik dát?* Herzie die definitie per levensfase; succes verschuift met je waarden.2) Bouw van macro naar micro* Macro: jouw blueprint (wie wil je zijn / wat wil je creëren?).* Micro: je dag. Ontwerp een ochtend die je beste zelf activeert (bijv. opstaan, meditatie, beweging) en een avond die afsluit met reflectie. Consequentie > duur.3) Courage om koers te veranderen* De transitie wordt vaak getriggerd door levensgebeurtenissen. Moed is nodig om status/zekerheid los te laten en naar binnen te luisteren.4) Verbondenheid is prestatiebrandstof* Shorombo ontdekte dat sociale verbinding (coworking, likeminded relaties) voor motivatie en betekenis net zo onmisbaar is als slaap en voeding. Plan het dus net zo bewust in.5) Van ego-harnas naar zorgend leiderschap* Jarenlange beschermingsstrategieën (arrogantie, altijd “winnen”) kunnen je identiteit vormgeven. De omslag start met erkenning, rouw, acceptatie—en het expliciet kiezen voor de zorgende leider die je wilt zijn.6) Belonging in je tweede helft* Minder “bewijzen”, meer behoren: partner, tribe, spiritualiteit/zin. Dit geeft kalmte en gezondheid—en haalt je van de eindeloze prestatieloopband.Mini-protocol: “Macro → Micro → Verbinden”Stap 1: Macro (30–60 min, 1×/kwartaal)Denk na over het grote plaatje, jouw definitie van succes: Wie wil ik zijn? Wat wil ik bijdragen? Hoe ziet een betekenisvolle dag/week eruit?Stap 2: Micro (dagelijk)Vertaal die visie naar dagelijkse en wekelijkse routines en begin vandaag nog jouw definitie van succes te leven.Stap 3: Verbinden (wekelijks gepland)Gebruik elke dag als een “stepping stone” naar de volgende dag door elke dag even stil te staan bij vragen zoals: “Wat gaf mij energie?”, “Wat koste mij energie?", “Wat heb ik vandaag geleerd?”, “Wat wil ik morgen anders doen/”* Avond: 5 min reflectie (wat gaf/nam energie? 1 inzicht, 1 micro-actie voor morgen).Quotes die blijven hangen* “Eerst de macro, dan de micro. Ontwerp je dag zodat je beste zelf onvermijdelijk wordt.”* “Je klimt soms jaren een ladder op—en dan zie je dat ‘ie tegen de verkeerde muur stond.”* “In je tweede helft wil je minder bewijzen en vooral behoren.”* “Ik koos bewust: caring partner, vader, leider—niet langer de jongen die van consequenties wegloopt.”FAQ – op basis van het gesprek1) Hoe begin ik met ‘mijn volle potentieel’ zonder te verdwalen?Start met bewust te worden van je eigen definitie van succes en wat waarom dit belangrijk is voor je. Ontdek vervolgens wat het beste uit jou bovenhaalt en jou instaat stelt om deze definitie elke dag te leven.2) Wat als mijn omgeving nog vasthoudt aan de oude versie van mij?Dat is normaal. Moed is nodig om te draaien. Hou je kompas dichtbij en begin klein in gedrag; de omgeving beweegt mee als jij consequent blijft. En soms moet je je omgeving leren loslaten. Niet iedereen zal meegaan naar de volgende fase in je leven. Ook dat it normaal.3) Welke routine raadt Shorombo minimaal aan?Een compacte ochtend: bewegen, meditatie (bodyscan → dankbaarheid → visualisatie), gevolgd door een duidelijke intentie voor de dag. ‘s Avonds: 5-min reflectie.4) Waarom is sociale verbinding zó belangrijk?Zonder echte verbinding voelt succes leeg en daalt motivatie. Bewust cowork/tribe inplannen geeft energie, focus en zin—zeker na periodes van isolatie.5) Wat bedoelt Jiri met ‘original trauma’?Een vroeg patroon of wond die je sterk vormt. Erkenning en rouw doorbreken oude beschermingslagen; taal en veilige setting helpen mannen dit bespreekbaar te maken.6) Hoe ga ik van denken naar doen?Gebruik Macro → Micro: noteer jouw 3 waarden → koppel 3 dagelijkse acties (bijv. verbinding = wekelijkse cowork-sessie). Houd het licht en vol te houden.TenslotteBenieuwd naar het volledige gesprek met alle inzichten, verhalen en concrete routines van Jiri?Beluister dan de hele aflevering van mijn AMA-serie – en ontdek hoe jij je eigen definitie van succes kunt leven, op een manier die bij jou past.🎙️ Wil jij zelf een keer te gast zijn in mijn AMA-serie en jouw brandende vragen aan mij stellen?Stuur mij dan een bericht, en wie weet gaan we samen in gesprek in een volgende aflevering van Ask Me Anything.

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TL;DRIn dit AMA-gesprek onderzoeken Shorombo Mooij en Terrence Power hoe je naast een volle (40u) baan energie en focus overhoudt voor groei, creativiteit en eventueel ondernemerschap. De rode draad: volg je ‘broodkruimels’ (enthousiasme), werk cyclisch (golven) in plaats van lineair, en bouw lichte maar consequente routines: bewegen, mediteren (bodyscan, dankbaarheid, heling/visualisatie), leren/schrijven en reflecteren. Je maakt je dagen intentioneel met een dagstart en borgt rust met een dag-eind reflectie. Structuur en flexibiliteit gaan samen—maar éérst routine (±66 dagen), dán flexibiliteit.De contextTerrence (25) werkt fulltime bij een co-working organisatie en wil naast zijn werk gezond leven, sociaal blijven en ruimte maken voor creativiteit/ondernemen. Hij merkte dat een rigide regime (05:00 op, sporten, side-business) leidde tot vermoeidheid en weinig herstel. Tijdens dit gesprek stelt Terrence vragen en geeft Shoromb hem tips over hoe hij op een duurzame manier het beste uit zichzelf kan halen en zijn ondernemersambities kan verkennen en combineren met zijn baan.Kerninzichten & praktische takeaways1) Volg je broodkruimels (enthousiasme als kompas)* Je hoeft (juist op je 25e) je ‘levenswerk’ niet te kennen. Gebruik enthousiasme als signaal: waar krijg je nú energie van? Volg dat naar de volgende broodkruimel.* Voor Terrence: netwerken/verbinden geeft energie → zoek meer settings waar dit kan (meetups, ondernemersomgevingen, co-working events).2) High performance werkt in golven* Zie je energie/creativiteit als cyclisch: periodes van output (creatie, pro-activiteit) worden gevolgd door periodes van opladen (rust, natuur, basics).* Door de golf te herkennen voorkom je ‘doorduwen tot je klapt’. Plan bewust: in de downfase focus je op slapen/eten/bewegen en intentionaliteit, niet op forceren.3) Shorombo’s ochtendroutine (compact & haalbaar)* Bewegen – korte workout in de woonkamer.* Mediteren – in drie slagen:* Bodyscan (wat voel je? wat speelt er in je hoofd?)* Dankbaarheid (train je brein om te zien wat er wél is)* Heling/visualisatie (stel je voor dat je fysieke/emotionele/energetische lichaam heelt; je beïnvloedt je fysiologie via je aandacht)* Leren/Schrijven – direct na de stilte is er vaak inspiratie: noteer ideeën, schrijf (telefoon mag), of neem een korte spraaknotitie/podcast op.Tip: begin micro. 10 minuten begeleide meditatie is genoeg om te starten.4) Intentie in de ochtend, reflectie in de avond* Dagstart: stel een intentie en maak een lichte dagindeling. Het is géén keurslijf; de dag blijft dynamisch.* Dag-eind: korte reflectieroutine: wat gaf/nam energie? wat ging goed? wat beter/minder morgen? Vrij schrijven (journal) is prima; notities in je telefoon of voice werkt óók.5) Slim gebruik van AI voor focus* Brain-dumps via voice naar een persoonlijke ‘daily planner’ chatbot (ADHD-vriendelijk) helpen van chaos → concrete dagplanning.* Werkt vooral goed wanneer je hoofd vol is: eerst alles leeggooien, dán laat je AI structureren.6) Structuur × flexibiliteit (in deze volgorde)* Eerst consequentie → dan variatie. Bouw een routine om vertrouwen te krijgen. Dán kun je flexibel schuiven zonder dat alles instort.* Seizoenen en levensfases mogen je ritme kleuren. Wanneer je weerstand voelt tegen ‘strak moeten’, geef jezelf tijdelijk ruimte en keer terug zodra je je eraan ergert.7) Ideale week & energiemanagement* Plan een ‘ideale week’ in je agenda: workouts, eten, deep work, creatie, sociale blokken.* Combineer omgevingen met taken (huis = deep work, koffiebar = licht/creatief).* Lunch heilig (niet achter je laptop). Warm eten en échte pauze = betere middagfocus.8) Groei- vs. creatiefase* Als je doel/onderwerp nog diffuus is, noem het groeitijd in plaats van ‘niets doen’. Lees, netwerk, test micro-projecten. Creatie volgt vanzelf wanneer het kompas weer scherp staat.Mini-protocol: “Back to Basics” (wanneer je merkt dat je daalt)* Slaap prioriteit (vaste bedtijd, schermen uit, koele kamer).* Eten volwaardig (proteïne/vezels, vast lunchmoment).* Bewegen dagelijks (kort = oké).* Buitenlucht & zon (10–20 min).* Schrijven of spreken (reflectie of braindump).Na 3–7 dagen evalueren; herstart je creatieblokken licht.FAQ – op basis van het gesprek1) Hoe combineer ik een 40-urige baan met ‘nog iets naast’ (leren/ondernemen)?Plan aan de voorkant van je dag 30–60 min voor jezelf (desnoods eerder slapen). Focus in ‘groeitijd’ op leren/netwerken i.p.v. direct bouwen. Gebruik een lichte intentie in de ochtend en een reflectie in de avond.2) Ik ben ’s avonds leeg. Wat nu?Accepteer dat je sociale baan energie kost. Gebruik de ochtend voor jouw project(je), en maak de avond ‘herstel’: kort bewegen, koken, reflectie, vroege nacht.3) Wat is een simpele start-meditatie?Begin met 10 minuten begeleid. Volg: bodyscan → dankbaarheid → korte visualisatie. Laat perfectie los: consequentie > duur.4) Hoe weet ik wat ik wil?Volg enthousiasme als broodkruimel. Test mini-ervaringen (meetups, 1 dag meelopen, kleine side-quests). Je kompas scherpt door doen, niet door denken alleen.5) Wat bedoel je met ‘werken in golven’?High performance is cyclisch. In up-fases: creëren en oogsten. In down-fases: opladen en back to basics. Door het patroon te herkennen, plan je realistischer en voorkom je uitputting.6) Moet routine altijd strak zijn?Nee. Eerst bouwen, daarna flexibel variëren. Richt 6–10 weken op consequentie; voeg daarna speelruimte toe (later opstaan, ander format) zonder de kern te laten vallen.7) Hoe maak ik een ideale weekplanning?Open je agenda (bijv. Google Calendar) → blokkeer eerst: slaap, workouts, eten, commute, herstel. Voeg daarna deep work/creatie toe, en plan sociale/leerblokken. Koppel taken aan locaties (thuis vs. koffiebar).8) Wat als mijn hoofd vol is (ADHD-trekjes)?Braindump via voice (zonder filter) → laat een planner/AI het omzetten naar een zachte dagplanning met 2–3 prioriteiten en pauzes. Werk in korte sprints (25–45 min) met micro-beloningen.9) Hoe hou ik het leuk/duurzaam?Maak het makkelijk (thuis-workouts), kort (10–20 min is oké), sociaal (co-work/meetups) en zinvol (koppel aan broodkruimels). Vier kleine wins.Bonus: 3 micro-routines om morgen te testen* 10-min Reset: 3 min adem + 5 min bodyscan + 2 min dankbaarheid.* Daily Brain-Dump (voice): 3–5 min vrij praten → AI-plannetje met 3 prioriteiten.* Evening Reflect: 5 vragen: (1) wat gaf energie? (2) wat kostte energie? (3) 1 win? (4) 1 inzicht? (5) 1 kleine actie voor morgen?Wil jij ook uitgenodigd worden voor een AMALijkt het jou wel vet om ook een keer met mij in gesprek te gaan en je vragen te stellen? Dat kan! Klik op deze link en geef jezelf op en wie weet wordt jij de volgende die aanschijft in mijn digitale studio.

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