The Alcohol-Free Advantage with Andy Ramage

Jules Evans: Philosopher and author of a book that transformed my life

Every now and then you read a book that changes your life. Jules’s Evan’s book, “Philosophy For Life And Other Dangerous Situations” did that for me.

I knew nothing about the great philosophers, although, without me knowing, their wisdom had already made a huge impact on my life.

The reason I am writing these words is that 10 years ago I read, ‘Awaken the Giant Within’ by Anthony Robbins. There was one line in that book that changed my life, “It's not events that shape our lives, but our beliefs about them.”.

When I read those words, it was like an explosion going off in my mind. For the first time in my life I realised that I could control how I felt by changing my beliefs about the things that were happening to me,” 

This one realisation was the catalyst that transformed my business, health and happiness.

Then I read Philosophy for Life and discovered the true source of Anthony Robbins' wisdom.

Over 2000 years ago the great Stoic Philosopher Epictetus said, “It’s not what happens to you, but how you react to it that matters. “

Epictetus also went on to say that we only ever have control over one thing, our beliefs. Therefore we have TOTAL control of our lives, because if we can control our beliefs about the events that happen to us we can control the emotions and actions that follow.

You will love this conversation with Jules, who has so much timely wisdom to share. During this conversation you will discover how a freak skiing accident helped Jules heal from a life of misadventure with drugs, and led him all the way back to the Stoics of Ancient Greece. 

Jules' story is like a great adventure, and there is so much more to come. So kick back and prepare to have your mind taken on a great adventure into the world of philosophy and other dangerous situations.

Alright let's do this

Andy 

Why EVERYONE must strength train

We lose 10% of our muscle mass every decade after 40. If we don’t use it we lose it.

A strong body supports a strong mind, plus you look great!

In my opinion, the gyms of the world should be full of 60,70,80 & 90-year-olds.

Forget battering yourself with HITT sessions and high-intensity workouts. Start something that you can maintain for life - strength training. 

And if you really love HITT you will build a strong foundation so you can enjoy it without always being injured. 

Maybe reflect on this: Why would you not strengthen your body and mind as you age?

Who is the age police who suggests we should GIVE UP?

Come on.

Picture yourself super strong as you age still chasing the kids, grandkids and great-grandkids!

My challenge to you is to find a great trainer, join a gym, get on youtube and experiment in the right way and start strengthening your body today.

Let me know if you already strength train or if you are going to take action?

Adrian Webster - Milkman to Motivational Guru

When you witness someone performing at their peak it’s a beautiful thing, whether that's on the sporting field, in business or when delivering a speech.

This week's guest Adrian Webster is one of the greatest motivational speakers I have ever seen. 

Every month I invite a special guest speaker to host a workshop for our on-going self-development community the Mind&Body Gym. Adrians talk was exceptional, it was like watching a master at work. There were tears, loads of laughs and tons of learning. And you could feel the passion behind every word. 

Adrian has clearly found his calling and his Arete.

But it wasn’t always this way. 

Adrian started out as a riot police officer. After realising this was not the career for him, he spent several years helping to grow a milk business by selling door to door. To help reframe the experience of rejection as he knocked on door after door he started to give them names. Instead of taking rejection personally he would look forward to seeing how many ‘Neg Ferret’s’ or ‘Bloaters’ he would meet. 

Eventually Adrian left the milk business and moved into IT sales. However the skills he mastered during his time as a milk salesman enabled him to become one of the top salesmen in the whole industry, eventually running a team of over 150 sales staff.

As the team grew Adrian started to motivate the whole team with stories of ‘Neg Ferret’s’ and ‘Bloaters’ which evolved into his first book, ‘The Polar Bear Pirates: A grown up book for kids at work’.

During one of these talks a client happened to be in the office and was so impressed that he asked Adrian to deliver a talk to his staff and the rest as you will find out is history.

Adrian is a wonderful example of how you can grow into your passion during the many twists and turns of life.

I hope you enjoy our chat, which is hilariously funny at times with a powerful message.

Alright let's do this

You can achieve whatever you desire if you have just three things.

Time, consistency, and ability to handle failure

Let me explain:

As Bill Gates once said, “We tend to massively overestimate what we can achieve in a year and underestimate what we can achieve in a decade.”

You can achieve virtually anything in 10 years - fact.

It would be totally possible to go from a total beginner to climbing Everest in 10 years. All that’s required is consistent incremental action during this period. 

It's consistency that most people struggle with.

Showing up day after day to incrementally build a skill takes effort and time. This is the key to your dreams. Most people won’t stay the distance and they also lack consistency.

All you have to do is keep showing up and your skillset will build to such a point you can climb your Everest.

The biggest killer of consistency is alcohol.

That’s why removing it is another key to your dreams.

When you combine alcohol-free consistency with a longer-term view you can achieve ANYTHING!

Let me know, what is the Everest goal you will summit using your alcohol-free consistency?

Let's do this!

Andy

Dr Alan Desmond: Starting a Plant-Based Revolution

You will often hear me say what matters most about nutrition is that you care about what you eat. If you care about what you fuel your body and mind with, you’re on the right track regardless of the style of food you choose. 

Whether that's Mediterranean, paleo, vegetarian or vegan.

If you care, you’re halfway there.

However there is now a mountain of scientific evidence to support the health benefits of a particular type of diet - the wholefood, plant based diet. 

Nutrition is an emotive subject and it feels like everyone has an opinion. But I implore you to listen to what Dr Alan has to say, it really might change your life.

Why?

Because Dr Alan is one of the leading voices in the world of plant-based nutrition. He walks the talk, and backs up EVERYTHING with hard science. Plus his day job as a gastroenterologist means he is at the forefront of gut health and sees upclose the consequences of certain types of diet.

No one is better qualified to have the conversation about nutrition than Dr Alan. 

Dr Alan is my go to guy in the world of nutrition and as you will discover we have become great friends I also have a small part to play in Alan’s rise to the forefront of plant-based nutrition.

You will LOVE this conversation and all I ask is that you leave your mind and heart open as you listen to Dr Alan’s cracking story and the nutritional wisdom he shares.

Alright let's do this

There is one way to make every day a great day, and that’s to feel grateful.

Gratitude is a superpower emotion that dissolves negativity and connects us with the positive.

Not in a happy-clappy way. In a real deep meaningful way.

I would love to know what is the one thing you are grateful for today?

A powerful message that keeps being retold on the podcast is how our greatest struggle can often turn out to be our greatest gift.

One of my first guests, Shahroo Izadi, the UK's answer to Brene Brown, was addicted to food from the age of 10 and wrestled with this problem for years. 

Shahroo now finds deep meaning and purpose in helping others to transform their lives by changing their relationship with food through her books such as The Kindness Method and The Last Diet.

Another fantastic guest on the show was Drew Schapper, PhD rockstar who fell into drink and drugs. After turning his life around to health, fitness, and family he wrote a brilliant book,“After Party” to inspire others to do the same!

Recently I interviewed Matt Pink aka @thebetterlifeguy LIVE and once again he shared a story that’s every parent's worst fear, and after almost taking his own life, he is now on a mission to help others make their life BETTER!

Equally, I fully acknowledge that when we are going through our hard times they just hurt. 

However, the message I really want to share through the podcast is that over time, our biggest mess can eventually become our most powerful message.

I would love to know which of your biggest struggles has turned into a story that could help others?

When I first started my alcohol-free (AF) adventure back in February 2014 AF-drinks were hard to find and tasted average at best. 

Today, they taste better than the alcoholic ones!! 

This is because the alcohol-free revolution is here. The reason for the explosion of AF drinks is that we are demanding quality grownup beverages that don’t contain the part that acts like Kryptonite to our dreams!

My guest this week, Johnny Johnson is a brilliant example of how going alcohol-free can unleash your creative & business superpowers. 

After taking a break from the booze, Johnny was frustrated at the lack of quality beers available. But rather than talk a BIG game and then do nothing, armed with the consistency and clarity that comes from alcohol-free Johnny actually did something about it.

With ZERO experience in making beer, Johnny sourced an expert alcohol-free beer maker and created his own brand called UNTLD.BEER. And I LOVE IT!!

Not only do the bottles look cool, but they also taste great. 

During this episode, we explore the brilliant story of how Johnny now finds deep meaning in providing alcohol-free beers and IPA’s to fuel the AF revolution.

Alright, let’s do this

Here’s my definition of success: Someone who is leading a vibrant, energised life full of contribution and purpose often in service of others.

As part of my research over the last 10 years I have noticed several habits that most successful people use.

1. They plan and then plan some more, often using a journal to start their day full of purpose and intention.
2. They read or listen to books. Reading is the superpower of the successful.
3. Recite daily affirmations to send a powerful message to their central nervous system that they are in charge of their destiny 
4. Finally the fastest-growing habit of the super successful: They DON’T drink or rarely drink, because they know at the elite level of life there is no time for the inconsistency that alcohol brings. 

Which of these habits do you feel is most important?

Don’t do what the 80% are doing

I refer to the brilliant Mark Twain, “When you find yourself on the side of the majority it's time to pause and reflect.”

Just because the majority do it does not make it right.

Here’s an idea. What if they all have it wrong?

What if we have discovered something on the fun side of the island that is so powerful but totally overlooked by the masses?

Well, we have.

NOT drinking is a superpower in a land where everyone drinks. 

“In the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is king!”

How will you use your alcohol-free advantage today?