This is a series of blog drafts that use the analogy of World War I trench warfare to explore the challenges and mindset of men in middle age. It draws parallels between the static, attritional warfare of the trenches and the feeling of being stuck or worn down in midlife. The content covers the historical context of trench warfare—machine guns, fortified trench systems, artillery, and the overall defensive nature of the conflict—and relates these elements to modern-day struggles with career stagnation, health concerns, and loss of purpose. The aim is to provide tactical advice and a shift in mindset, encouraging resilience, adaptation, and a focus on practical strategies for navigating the "No Man's Land" of middle age. The writing style is informal, direct, and uses military analogies extensively to connect with readers.

Drafts that use the analogy of World War I trench warfare to explore the challenges and mindset of men in middle age. It draws parallels between the static, attritional warfare of the trenches and the feeling of being stuck or worn down in midlife. The content covers the historical context of trench warfare—machine guns, fortified trench systems, artillery, and the overall defensive nature of the conflict—and relates these elements to modern-day struggles with career stagnation, health concerns, and loss of purpose. The aim is to provide tactical advice and a shift in mindset, encouraging resilience, adaptation, and a focus on practical strategies for navigating the "No Man's Land" of middle age. The writing style is informal, direct, and uses military analogies extensively to connect with readers.

Deterrence Through Presence: Middle-aged men can fend off irrelevance by cultivating a threatening, unpredictable presence that discourages attacks before they start. Reputation, uncertainty, and a willingness to go further build this deterrence.

Strategic Retreat: Sometimes the best move is no move at all. Trading space for time—disengaging and retreating—allows you to think strategically, exploit vulnerabilities, and infuriate aggressors.

Self-Knowledge is Power: Use periods of retreat to understand your strengths, weaknesses, and values. Embrace your experience and use it to anticipate enemy moves.

This piece argues that men in middle age often make poor decisions due to the "emotion default," reacting impulsively instead of strategically. Using examples from The Godfather, the Olympics, and a personal anecdote, it highlights the dangers of unchecked emotions. The piece emphasizes the importance of recognizing and controlling emotions, especially when compounded by biological factors like sleep deprivation and stress, in order to avoid disastrous consequences.

This newsletter/blog post uses the historical example of the Military Revolution, triggered by the invention and development of gunpowder, as a metaphor for the challenges faced by men over 40 experiencing mid-life stagnation. It argues that just as gunpowder rendered traditional military strategies and social structures obsolete, modern technological and economic shifts can make established skills and career paths outdated. The post encourages men to acknowledge these changes, acquire new skills, embrace innovation, and take risks to avoid being "left behind" and to become a "force to be reckoned with" in this new landscape. It advocates for continuous learning, diversification, and experimentation in both career and personal life.

This newsletter, "The Ageing Warrior," offers strategic advice for men over 40 to navigate mid-life challenges. It emphasises prioritising battles by identifying strengths and delegating weaknesses to conserve limited resources. The newsletter further advocates for the counterattack strategy, drawing inspiration from Napoleon and Jujitsu. It promotes patience, strategic thinking, and leveraging opponents' weaknesses to turn difficult situations around in work, relationships, and personal life. The overall message is to approach mid-life not as a crisis but as a campaign requiring strategy, ruthlessness, and triumph.

This newsletter addresses middle-aged men experiencing stagnation and a lack of fulfillment. It advocates for taking control of one's life through clear thinking, inspired by Shane Parrish's "Clear Thinking." The core message emphasizes recognizing and overcoming ingrained, detrimental reactions (defaults) like emotion, ego, social pressures, and inertia. The key technique is "the pause" – a conscious moment to breathe, consider, and choose a response rather than reacting impulsively. The newsletter encourages self-awareness, strategic action, and rejecting mediocrity.

his newsletter uses the teachings of Musashi's "The Book of Five Rings" to provide a strategy for men over 40 to overcome mid-life stagnation. It provides actionable advice based on the five elements of the book to help them regain control, discipline, and direction in their lives.

The blog is a motivational guide for men aged 40+ dealing with midlife stagnation. It uses the analogy of medieval warfare to encourage viewers to reclaim their lives by re-evaluating their priorities, fortifying their strengths, and breaking through personal barriers. The video combines historical examples, practical exercises, and community support to offer actionable advice in a humorous and relatable manner. The goal is to empower men to take charge, conquer their challenges, and find renewed purpose in middle age.

This blog offers middle-aged men practical advice on using Stoicism to navigate the challenges of mid-life. It uses Ryan Holiday's "The Obstacle Is the Way" as a springboard to discuss Stoic principles like the Dichotomy of Control, Negative Visualization, and Virtue Ethics. The video avoids overly philosophical language, opting for relatable examples, a conversational tone, and a bit of British humour (including some swearing). It emphasizes taking actionable steps to face challenges head-on, rather than succumbing to a midlife crisis. It also acknowledges the limitations of Stoicism and encourages viewers to start a community to support each other.

This Blog for men aged 40+ aims to combat mid-life stagnation by encouraging viewers to find purpose, lead by example, and cultivate a positive mindset. It challenges the concept of a mid-life crisis, urging viewers to identify their personal "crusade" and actively fight against the forces holding them back. The script emphasizes action, self-improvement, and building a supportive community, all delivered with direct and realistic language. It combines tough love with practical advice to inspire viewers to reclaim their lives and overcome feelings of disillusionment.

Roman military success stemmed from its organised legions, innovative formations like the Testudo, and strategic approaches such as the Fabian Strategy. Legions were flexible, standardised, and well-supplied. The Testudo provided protection against projectiles, while the Fabian Strategy aimed to weaken enemies through attrition. The Roman legion's adaptability and versatility made it superior to the Greek phalanx, which was rigid and limited by terrain. Roman legions, with their flexible structure and diverse weaponry, proved more effective across various battlefield conditions, leading to greater military achievements.

This newsletter explores the complexities of human thinking and decision-making. It delves into Daniel Kahneman's "Thinking, Fast and Slow," highlighting System 1 and System 2 thinking, cognitive biases, and the illusion of understanding. It also references Richard Paul and Linda Elder's work on critical thinking, particularly the concepts of deductive and inductive reasoning. The newsletter further explores Kahneman's insights on cognitive ease, the search for causality, and the reliance on heuristics. Finally, it draws upon Marcus Aurelius's "Meditations" to emphasise the importance of objectivity, rationality, self-examination, and acceptance of change for clear thinking and virtuous living. The overall aim is to encourage readers to become more aware of their cognitive biases and to cultivate better reasoning skills for a more examined and rational life.

Inspired by Robert Greene's "The 33 Strategies of War," this newsletter explores the importance of avoiding groupthink and establishing effective command-and-control. It emphasises the perils of divided leadership, advocating for a unified command structure led by trusted deputies who share a common vision. By cultivating a skilled team, streamlining communication, and issuing clear, inspiring orders, leaders can maintain control and achieve success in any competitive environment.

This piece explores Carl von Clausewitz and his seminal work, "On War." It acknowledges the difficulty of reading Clausewitz due to his complex writing style but emphasizes the importance of his ideas in military strategy and beyond. The text provides a brief biography of Clausewitz, then simplifies some of his core concepts: war as politics by other means, the trinity of war (violence, chance, and reason), friction, and the importance of morale. It touches on the "3 Reciprocal Actions" from Book 1 that can escalate conflict and highlights the book's emphasis on war's complex interaction of political goals, human passions, chance, and rational calculation. The author suggests that Clausewitz's principles can be applied to various aspects of life, making his work relevant even for those outside the military field.