The Most Powerful Drugs for Midlife Men Revealed
Your 6-minute investment to get 1% better at life each week
If you are a midlife man in a leadership role, I’ve created The Prime Movement for you. As a coach and former global C-suite executive, I understand the unique challenges you face. In a world where your struggles can feel unnoticed, I see you. I get it, because I’ve lived it.
The Prime Movement is a community for those of us who aren’t ready to ‘quiet quit’ life. This is for those of us who believe in the power of progress - mentally, physically and spiritually.
It’s for those who not only dare to know.
It’s for those who dare to grow.
What’s coming up:
Prime Performance - This week’s best news, views & life-hacks
The Prime Perspective - The Most Powerful Drugs for Midlife Men Revealed
Lessons from the Trenches - Rediscovering Your Leadership Edge: A CEO's Journey
Be a Prime Mover - Wisdom to inspire action
Prime Performance: this week’s news, views and life hacks
LISTEN
Finding Your True Path: A Masterclass in Midlife Purpose
The author Robert Greene of Mastery fame joined Mark Manson on the Subtle Art of Not Giving a F**k podcast last week to talk about ‘How To Find Your True Path in Life’. And as you’d expect, it’s packed with profound insights for midlife men feeling stuck or questioning their direction.
What makes this worth your time isn't just Greene's trademark wisdom - it's his candid discussion of the challenges he faced in his own midlife journey. His insights on distinguishing between "good pain" (the challenges that help us grow) versus "bad pain" (signals we're on the wrong path) are particularly relevant for our community, in my opinion. The full 90-minute conversation is packed with actionable wisdom, and I’m going to be rewatching this again and again.
WATCH
A killer 39-second must-watch on managing stress
Former GoogleX Chief Business Officer Mo Gawdat delivers a powerful reality check about stress in this short clip. I saw him tackle this subject in London earlier this year, and this snippet perfectly captures the practical wisdom I witnessed first-hand. His take? Start auditing your stress experiences to understand what's actually worth your energy. It's exactly the kind of actionable insight you’re looking for.
READ
Want Better Performance? Stop Managing Time, Start Managing Energy
This Harvard Business Review study isn’t new, but ties in perfectly with this week’s Prime Perspective, as it shows what the most effective leaders already know - trying to squeeze more hours from your day is a losing game. Instead, their research found that leaders who focused on energy management outperformed their peers by up to 20% on key metrics.
What makes this worth your time isn't just the science - it's the practical proof that small energy renewal practices can transform your leadership impact. The full article is packed with actionable insights you can implement today. (A note of thanks to Michaal Fryer of Starr Coaching for sharing this with us - the TPM community is already coming together!).
The Prime Perspective: Personal reflections on leadership and growth
The Most Powerful Drugs for Midlife Men Revealed
I had an interesting conversation with a C-suite executive in the States recently. He's spent thousands on the latest fitness tech, tried every supplement going, and has been seriously considering Ozempic - all in pursuit of optimal health and performance.
Sound familiar?
Here's the reality check we all sometimes need: The two most powerful "drugs" for transforming your mental and physical wellbeing are affordable, accessible and transformational.
They're food and exercise.
I know, I know... not exactly breaking news. But stay with me here.
The science behind this has just got more compelling than ever. A groundbreaking study published in the November issue of The Lancet, one of the world’s leading medical journals, highlights something fascinating about our muscles - they're not just for movement and strength, they're essentially a command center for your entire body's health.
The Prime Movement’s Chief Advisor Dr Brendon Stubbs has been ahead of the curve on this one - his work has shown that regular exercise doesn't just transform your body, it also affects your brain, increasing something called BDNF (think of it as fertilizer to develop neural connections and new brain cells). In plain English? Exercise consistently and you can literally rewire your brain, improving your cognitive function and mood, and enhancing your stress resilience.
But here's where it gets really interesting: that same Lancet research also reveals that your muscles are actually acting as a powerful endocrine organ - releasing compounds that regulate everything from your immune system to your metabolism. So using them doesn’t just help you lift weights - they're helping you fight illness, regulate blood sugar, and even positively influence your mental health.
As for nutrition, the right food choices create a similar cascade of positive effects:
Recent research shows that an anti-inflammatory diet can reduce cortisol (your stress hormone) levels by up to 25%, directly impacting everything from your sleep quality to your decision-making abilities.Research by Dr Brendon that was published in May of this year showed that a 10% decrease in consumption of ultra-processed food was associated with a 10% decrease in the risk of depression.
So in simple terms, as a midlife man, the benefits of regular exercise and eating right are even better than you suspected and are critical to your wellbeing, not just physically but also mentally.
But here's where many of us get stuck...
We overcomplicate it. We look for shortcuts. We chase the next big thing - whether it's the latest supplement stack or miracle drug (yep, we’ll be talking about Ozempic real soon!).
Meanwhile, we're ignoring the fundamental truth: consistent, basic practices trump sporadic, complex interventions every single time.
I've seen this play out countless times. The leaders who thrive aren't the ones with the most sophisticated biohacking routines - they're the Prime Movers who've mastered the basics and are committed to the process:
Movement and resistance training
Whole foods (even if they're not "perfect")
Consistency over intensity
The magic isn't in finding some revolutionary new solution. It's in adhering to these fundamentals day after day, week after week. Science is increasingly showing us that the concept of mental health and physical health as separate entities is a myth. So focusing on getting the basics right when it comes to exercise and nutrition isn't just about looking better - it's about building a stronger, more resilient version of yourself in every sense.
So before you drop another grand on the latest wellness gadget or miracle supplement, ask yourself: Have you truly optimized these two powerful "drugs" that are already at your disposal?
Your move… but we’re here to support you.
The Prime Movement Program, developed in association with Dr Brendon Stubbs, one of the world’s leading neuroscientists, is launching in January 2025.
Lessons from the Trenches: Real life leadership challenges
Every week, I address real challenges faced by leaders like you. These insights come from both TPM readers and anonymized coaching experiences. Because when one of us faces a challenge, we can all learn from it.
CHALLENGE:
After several years as CEO, I've hit a wall. While I can run the business effectively, I sense my leadership style has become stale. My team feels it too. How do I evolve as a leader when I'm already 'successful'?"
MY TAKE:
First, credit where it's due – this level of self-awareness sets you apart. Some leaders in your position either don't notice or won't acknowledge these feelings. That's often the first step toward losing their team's trust. But here's the crucial shift I want you to make…
I want you to reframe this as an opportunity for personal growth rather than a problem that must be solved. stop thinking about this as a skills gap to fill. Instead, ask yourself one powerful question: 'Why should my team follow me?'
This isn't about acquiring new external capabilities. It's about reconnecting with your authentic leadership voice. When was the last time you felt truly energized leading your team? What's changed since then?
This isn’t about adding another skill to your CV. Your team doesn't need a more technically proficient CEO – they need a leader who's engaged, present, and genuinely invested in their collective success. If you reflect on that reality, a path forward will start to form. Let’s get to work…
1-on-1 coaching with TPM Founder Jason Leavy, under his Guide not Guru integrated coaching brand. Dare to Know, Dare to Grow. 👇
Help a Brother Out: Send this to a friend
The Prime Movement has been created for midlife men like us. Those who are in the arena of life, fighting and struggling to do their best. So if you have a friend who you think will benefit from becoming part of The Prime Movement community, please forward it on so they can sign up. We are stronger together.
Be A Prime Mover: Wisdom to inspire action
“Beware the stories you read or tell; subtly, at night, beneath the waters of consciousness, they are altering your world.”
Ben Okri
MY TAKE:
Beneath the wonderful words of author Ben Okri lies a fundamental truth about the power of internal narratives – one that's particularly relevant for midlife leaders.
Think about it: How often do you catch yourself reinforcing limiting stories? "I'm too old to change." "My best years are behind me." "I can't compete with younger talent."
These aren't just fleeting thoughts. As Okri suggests, they're actively shaping your reality. The neuroscience backs this up – our brains are constantly rewiring themselves based on our dominant thought patterns.
But here's the opportunity: If negative self-talk can limit us, positive reinforcement can propel us forward. The key is being intentional about the stories you tell yourself.
Instead of "I'm too set in my ways," try "My experience gives me unique insights, so how can I leverage that?." Rather than "I'm out of touch" consider "What can I do to build on this great foundation I’ve established?"
The stories you choose to tell yourself at this stage of life aren't just mental exercises – they're blueprints for your future actions and achievements.
(A note of thanks to James Clear for bringing Okri's powerful quote to my attention.)
Your community, Your voice
I created The Prime Movement for you, so the more I can hear from you about what you want to see, hear and learn, the more I can shape this for you. The Prime Movement is a community created for you and your thoughts are the fuel that keeps us moving forward, so I can promise I will personally read and respond to any email you send me. Message me at jason@theprimemovement.com.
