Thank you for having me.
Before we get started, you were already living the brand this morning. Where were you?
Um, I was hosting a mobility session up in Ponsonby Central. Um, with Triumph and Disaster.
Amazing.
Yeah. Okay. I was there this morning.
And now you’re here. No, I will jump straight in then. Um, I want to know, um, about movement. I find movement fascinating. Um, it’s something that as children, you know, we have to do as part of schooling. And then after that, at some point, some people continue it and some people stop. So tell me about what movement means to you and what your current routine looks like.
Um, movement is obviously essential. It’s your health. Like, you can’t be healthy without, you know, being able to move. So I like to promote, like, a holistic kind of movement practice. So, you know, mastering the body and mastering body weight movements before, you know, lifting heavy things and go to the gym. Right. Um, which, you know, with mobility this morning, um, you know, it was cool to teach people these, like, simple moves that they can do every day. Um, it’s like I kind of talk about mobility being, like, brushing your teeth, daily hygiene. You know, you just want to keep doing it. Yeah. Um, because when you stop, that’s when you start to let your body start to forget and lose it. Yeah.
Um, that’s so interesting. It’s I mean, I yeah. Look, thinking about children again. Um, they are flexible from the get go and then some somewhere along the line. Unless you, you continued to, as you say, practice it like brushing your teeth. Like rituals every day you just lose it. You can’t. You can’t touch your toes. You can’t. All sorts of things that you probably should be able to do if we. If we just did it every day.
Yeah. Well, because daily life kind of doesn’t allow you to you don’t move in those positions. You know, we’re sitting we’re driving in our cars all day. So what’s my movement? I obviously go to the gym. Yes. Um, but I promote callisthenics, which is more like a body weight, um, kind of practice with extra weight as well, with, like, resistance. Um, but I like to do it all.
What does, um, tell me about, like, a few bodyweight exercises for anyone who doesn’t know what that is.
Super simple, like pull ups, pull ups, dips, push ups, like anything that you can just do with your body.
Do you think everybody should be able to do pull ups? Is that something that?
Yeah, I definitely think so. Okay, I can imagine if you were obviously, you know, stuck somewhere. You need to pull yourself up.
You need that stuff up.
You need the strength to, you know, save yourself.
And what kind of watch parts like for a pull up. What are you? Is it core strength? Is it full body like what is it exactly?
Upper body strength, upper body. But a lot of like the, you know, the body is being used in that movement. So. Yeah.
Okay. And what are you loving the most right now.
Oh that’s hard because I’m just a curious guy. So I love to push the body and like, explore the potential. Yeah. Um, of the human body. So yeah, at the moment, I, you know, I’m, I’m in my mid 30s. I feel just as strong as I was, if not more better, like stronger than I was in my 20s. Amazing. Uh, more mobile, more flexible. Um, yeah. I feel like I’m knocking as off as opposed to, you know, knocking them on. I love it. Um, so. Yeah.
Tell me about Phil as a child. Like, what were you like? Were you always interested in movement or is it something that came later in life?
Sports. It was always sports.
What were your sports of choice?
Basketball was the first one. And then volleyball. Yes. And beach volleyball.
Okay. Did you ever get injured?
No. Not really. Because the beach, you know, you fall on sand. Wow. Basketball. Not really a contact sport. Well, it can be, but not.
Did you pull things or did you? You know.
No, I was actually quite good. Okay. It was just like, you know, normal. Normal injuries. Yes. But. Yeah. No, I was always a sports kind of sports first kind of guy. Okay. Um, I didn’t really step foot in the gym until, like, you know, early 20s, mid 20s. Yeah.
What, um, what brought you to the gym? Was it?
My friend. Someone had come along. Come along. You like it? And I was like, no, no, no, I’ll just stick to basketball.
Yeah, yeah. And then you.
Went and then I went, and then I got hooked. And then I just became obsessed and curious about, like, what the body could do, you know?
Did you see yourself progress in different ways, like once you enter the gym?
Yeah. Yeah. It was like, you know, your standard go to the gym. Yes. Then I started doing like. Yeah. The callisthenics bodyweight stuff.
How did you how. Like, I feel like most people that step into a gym, I know in my experience, it’s straight away like there’s this idea that you should be lifting the heaviest thing possible. Heaviest thing possible. So how did you decide or what did you who taught you that you should be focusing first on body weight?
Well, no, I think I did follow that traditional. Yeah, you did as well. Yeah. It was just build strength. Yeah. Just keep lifting. Yes. Go for size. And then I guess once you start to mature in the gym and start to learn a few things. Yes. Um, yeah. I was like, okay, this there’s more to just this kind of two dimensional lifting. Yeah. Um, so I started to dive deeper into, yeah, there’s more like kind of natural movements, body weight movements, mastering like the body first. Yeah. And now, yeah, I’m doing that through mobility and flexibility. Yes. Um, which I only just started. What, when lockdown started. So only like in my 30s. So.
So you were telling me before that you weren’t, like, super flexible and. Wow. So there’s hope for people at home.
Like, you can definitely start.
And tell me. Tell me like what that looked like. Like what was your you know, one day you said I’m I guess as you said, it was a natural progression. You matured in the gym and then you thought, I guess, how did that path start?
Well, I’m a big one for setting a goal. Yes. And when obviously the lockdown happened, we couldn’t work. Yes. Heading to the gym. You can go to the gym. You couldn’t do anything, so it was fine. I could still work out. But then I wanted something to, like, kind of strive for. And I just set a goal of doing the splits.
Wow. And I was like, so you couldn’t do that before?
No no.
No no. That’s incredible.
Yeah, I was pretty stiff. Like I would, you know, get a solo back. Yes. After like a 4K run. Wow. And then once I started, you know, doing the movements every morning to start off with and, um, and lockdown. Yeah, it started getting better. Um, yeah. And I just stayed consistent.
That’s incredible. Yeah. Yeah, I think for a lot of people I know, myself included, I’ve kind of I’ve sort of just decided, you know, I’m just not one of those kind of people. Um, yeah. I’m a, you know, I’m just not a flexible person. And I also know I don’t do the work, so I’ll go for a run. It’s just terrible. I know it’s terrible, and I’ll just not stretch. I’ll just be like, oh, I just did 12 K’s and then I’ll just get on with my life, you know? And then I’m like, oh, I wonder why things hurt and I know why. But in my head I like just did an hour of work. I can’t be bothered doing that extra 20 minutes or whatever it is, which is vital.
So but it doesn’t need to be 20 minutes, honestly. Like it’s you just need to do like five. Yeah. Everyone’s got time for five minutes. Everyone’s got. Time to scroll. You’ve got time. You’ve got five.
You’re 100% right. Yeah. So it’s prioritising. Yeah. And knowing that, you know, making those small changes every single day actually has a huge impact. I mean, lockdown wasn’t that long ago. And now I mean, some of the videos that you share online of the you know, your mobility is super impressive. So to know that that wasn’t something that you grew up doing. You don’t come from a gymnastics background.
Not at all.
Yeah, yeah.
It was just a regular dude just playing sports.
Just striving to be his personal best.
Yeah, exactly, exactly.
Oh, fantastic. Um, okay, so that’s, um. Yeah. Mobility. So I can see where the passion comes from. It’s, uh, try trial and error and seeing the, like, success, you know, little bits at a time. Um, what other kind of daily rituals are you? Do you include that you think are important, you know, around food or around? I don’t know anything.
Um, I guess main one would be just sitting. Sitting time aside for yourself. Like some solitary time. Okay. Um, silence. You know, just to really, you know, focus on your thoughts and just, um, sift out the noise. Okay. You know, because we’re always constantly bombarded with, like, notifications and noise. So, um, and a lot of time, you just your thoughts get lost in that.
So you write down the thoughts. Like, do you journal?
I do like to just sit. I don’t journal, but I just scribble alive. Right. Like there’s so many bits of paper. Like, do you read them again?
Yeah.
Okay.
Yeah. Okay. They all organised in my life. My bag and like, my, like, file. Okay. Um. And yeah, I’ll say them, and then I’ll just remind me, you know, of, like, what I was doing that day or whatever that thought was.
Do you, um, do you think there’s, like, a benefit of doing it with a, like, pen or pencil and paper versus digital.
Um, um, I like to push. Like pen to paper. Just because, you know, we’re always on our phones and solitude is like a big one. And then just like, you know, delayed gratification. Okay. You know, I suppose, um, runs.
I think it sounds like torture. I’m sitting in a cold ice bath. Um, but I know that there’s so much research showing that it’s really good for you. So tell me how you got started with that and what your thoughts are about it.
Okay. How we got started. Um, it’s just me and a friend. Yes. Yeah. Over lockdown, like we were just sitting there listening to podcasts. Yes. Podcasts were just on the rise back then. Um, and, yeah, Andrew Huberman talked about, you know, doing 11 minutes of cold bar thing, like a week. Yeah, like it leads to all the benefits.
What kind of benefits do you know of?
Well, you got mental benefits. You got like, physical like that. People know, like reducing inflammation. Okay. But then you’ve also got, um, you know, the benefits of, like, your hormones? Yes. Um, rewiring your brain to do hard things? Yes. Um, and then just there was the natural dopamine, um, that you got from, you know, sitting in a couple minutes of cold water. Yeah. It was, you know, like having, like, four coffees. Yes. Uh, without even having any. Um, yeah. Just the natural dopamine high was just, like, a strong pull for us. Like, you know, why not feel good? And it’s all natural, and it’s pretty much free. I’m just jumping in some cold water. Yeah. Um, so. Yeah. So, I mean, a friend wanted to explore that route and that tool, and we just. Yeah. Bought some ice. I had a tub tucked in the garage somewhere. We yanked it, pulled it out, and then. Yeah.
Were you surprised that you were capable or are you always trying to find.
Well, at the start, we didn’t actually buy enough ice. Oh. So it was uncomfortable, but it wasn’t that bad. Okay. So then the next day, we were like, okay, let’s up to nine bags of ice each. So we just got the hex. And then that was that was the struggle. Okay. But the the feeling and the high afterwards was just wow. Amazing.
Do you get the same height each time? Yeah.
Yeah, 100%. Yeah. If not better. Wow.
Because you know what you’re about to get. And then you get it, and then you’re out. You’re done. And the air probably feels really hot compared to the 100%. Yeah, you know. Okay, well, look, I mean, look, I have jumped on the cold ocean. It’s not the same thing, but I do know the feeling. And I always say that it’s like the most exhilarating feeling, but but imagine that. Yes. Times like five. But the problem is, is I feel like it’s the confinement that’s that like, for me, is a deterrent. Like with the ocean, you can kind of like, move.
Yeah. But I was. I was quite I’ll tubs are quite big. So you’ve got space.
You can go still right. You’re supposed to or not. Can do it.
Doesn’t really matter as long as you’re in there for that amount of time. Yeah. Okay. Obviously staying still. Yes. Actually is harder. I mean, is I guess, easier in a way. Yeah. Because, like, your body creates that thermal layer. Okay. Um, we’re like, if you’re in the ocean, you’re constantly moving. Yes. You’re both somewhat warming up. Yes, yes. Yeah, yeah, yeah. That’s true. Yeah. I think that’s probably why. Yeah. You quickly swim. You’re trying to.
But that’s just like. Yeah, sitting in stillness. It’s great for the mind as well as the body.
Incredible. Yeah. Does it um, I mean, you mentioned, um, doing hard, like, rewiring your brain to, like, to believe that you can do hard things. I love that I really do, because I think, for me, you know, I’m not an athlete, but I run three days a week. Um, and it’s always hard, you know, I don’t think like you get. You know, you you obviously know the hardness and so and you become comfortable with it and you understand it. Whereas I think for like a first time runner, you know, or someone who they’ll, they’ll run and they’ll hate it because they’re afraid of the unknown. You know, that uncomfortable feeling, but you’re almost like comfortably uncomfortable when you’ve done something a lot. So, yeah. Um, yeah. I love the idea, though, that you do those hard things and then afterwards, for the rest of the day, whatever that hard thing was, you, you can, like, bask in the, the glory of it, you know, like, you can enjoy it and you can feel fulfilled from it. Um, yeah, I guess. How do you when you. Obviously ice Munity is a community event. It’s not just doing it on your own. You you. I guess you use the encouragement of other people. Yes. Um. Tell me, tell me about that and how it feels to watch other people doing hard things and what each other, you know, like like how do. What is the first time in an ice bath? What do they like? What is the general experience that you’ve witnessed?
Um, the they tend to surprise themselves a lot. Um, because a lot of people put that kind of mental barrier, like, I can’t do it, I can’t do it, and I don’t, I don’t like to use I don’t like to use the word can’t like that. Just, you know, you just haven’t tried it, you. Know, you just haven’t done it. Yet. You haven’t done it yet. So, like, you just you can’t you just don’t want to. But once you get there, um, and it’s so cool to see that kind of tick and people’s, like, joys and minds, um, when I watch them, because I obviously, if it’s the first time, I like to make sure that everyone’s having a positive experience or like, um, they know what to do, and they’re not freaking out. Yes, because the first time I did mine, um, it was before Covid, but my mate had taken me to, like, a cold plunge, um, and just left me there, and he was like, I’ll go for a swim at the poet. Well, you can do this cold plunge, okay. And I just had no idea. This was like, years ago, and I just thought, okay, cool. Just jump in and then just sit there for three minutes. And I just couldn’t. Yeah. Like, because no one taught me how to breathe through it. Because it’s all in the breath power. Yes. Through ice baths. It’s through your breath. I believe it in slowing down your heart rate. Yes. So?
So your breathwork can actually slow down your heart rate?
Well, yeah. By slowing down the tempo of your breathing. Yes. You’ll slow down. You’ll tell the heart in the body that it’s all good. That you know it’s. It’s safe. Yeah. Um. Yes, that might be. That’s part of it. Yes, yes. Um.
So I chose this.
Yeah, exactly. I chose that.
I’m not. I’m not being. I’m not under attack.
Yeah, exactly. So maybe like that first, you know 10s you’re you gasp but he can really drop into that breathing. Yes. You’ll. You’ll be sweet. Wow. But, um, back to what you asked me was just me, I guess.
So you’ve got you created the, you know, a bit of a community. So you’ll you’ll bring the baths. How many baths will you bring normally to an event too?
But it’s just nice to have like two because like, most people come in free, like with a friend and.
They can go together.
Yeah. Or if you’re two single people, it’s just it’s a kind of shared bond. Okay. It’s cool to see people like bond over, like, doing hard things. Yes. Um, because, yeah, if you know, two people click and they’re like, both interested in these things. So yeah, you know, they can either become friends or like, hit it off. Yeah. Oh.
Okay. So it’s like a it’s an interesting. Have you ever had, um, is it like, I mean, a bit of a matchmaking. Have you ever. Seen.
I think I’ve seen, I’ve not done personally. I think it’s just been natural. Yes. Oh. So it’s. Pretty cool. Um, I’ve read that, um, that if you put yourself in high adrenaline situations, you actually get these, like, feelings of like of love. And sometimes people fall in love with someone that they have done, like, say skydiving or, you know, something like high adrenaline or, you know, the person that was with them and that experience, they instantly have this attraction to them. Yes, yes. Yeah. So it’s actually quite a unique maybe a new business idea like.
Yeah, matchmaking, speed dating, ice dating. Yeah.
Yeah that’s funny.
But no, that’s I think that’s the beauty of it, you know, like it’s just it’s more human and like, it’s just so, so cool to like, you know, share these things with like minded people.
Yeah, yeah, yeah. I guess everybody that shows up, even if some of them are just watching for the day and they don’t want to participate, but they’re thinking about it. Yeah.
Um, and that’s what happens a lot of the time. Like, you know, like four friends would come, one would check it out. Yes. And then after that, seeing three friends, like, feel so good, so, like elevated and excited. Yeah. They just they just can’t like, not.
They just want.
To have a go. Have a go. Yeah. Yeah. It’s amazing.
Oh I love it. It’s almost. Yeah. It’s kind of like I guess again with the hydrogen. Like a roller coaster or just something that’s. It’s in your mind. Half the pain is half the struggle is you imagining what it’s going to be like. But when you actually do it, it’s not very long. Like, what’s three minutes exactly.
So what is three minutes, right.
I might be slowly getting convinced. Yeah. Watch the space.
Yeah, yeah.
Um, no. Very cool. Um, okay. So. All right, so we’ve got, um, we’ve talked about mobility. We’ve talked about ice cold plunges. What? Tell me about your bowl. You’ve got another casual business on the side. Um, it’s incredible that you’re managing so many different things, but, um. Yeah. First, talk me through how you got into healthy food. Um, yeah. Maybe. What year balls about. And. Yeah. And then I’ll ask you a little bit about how you prioritise or how you manage to, to, to do all of them.
Okay. Um, well, Yerba was essentially my first vehicle. Entire business. Yes. Um, spent like, you know, six weeks travelling with a friend, came back, didn’t really have a job, so I thought I’d just started this month. Yeah, yeah. Um, and, yeah, I was obviously, you know, midway through training, like enjoyed healthy, like cooking whole foods and all that kind of stuff. And yeah, I just saw a lot of Poké shops in the States. Yes. I think it had boomed in like 2014 and this was like 2017. So like, you know, usually takes usually takes like five years to get down to, you know, our little New Zealand. Yes. Um, so, yeah, I just, you know, bit the bullet found like a space in Takapuna. Um, and then just winged it.
And how did you design all the, all the meals. Did you get some support from, you know, just. Shoot. Or. Wow. You just you just figured.
I just because I was always into cooking and like, making, like, you know, healthy meals and food. Yeah. I was like, what’s so hard about putting whole foods? Like to get in a bowl, you know? Yeah, yeah, it was half of it was like, you know, for aesthetic, like colour matching and um, and then the other half was just, yeah, blending the flavours together. Um, yeah. I just did like a few, a few different like days with friends were like, hey, come over, try these flavours and just give me your honest thoughts.
Yeah. What’s your best seller?
Best seller? I think at the moment, probably the beef beef bowl. Yeah. What’s in it, beefy boy? Um, and then I think the the salmon one.
Oh, yeah. Salmon. Yeah. Classic.
Yeah. The beefy boy is just like a sous vide kind of beef. Okay. Um, some pickled ginger, um, some jet mayo, some miso like dressing and some shallots.
Interesting.
So, yeah. Super simple. Nothing like crazy. Yeah.
And how did you, um, you grew up with your parents owning a takeaway shop?
Yes.
Yeah. Um, how? I mean, that’s a I guess you took some of the learnings about, you know, feeding the public. Um, yeah, but totally different food. How did you. Yeah. Tell me about what? Like, your experience was watching them in a takeaway shop. And did you were you, like, sometimes roped in?
I was always roped in, like you had to, like, if you wanted to live in this house. Used to work.
So what did you have to do?
Um, started off like flipping burgers. Oh, yeah. Yeah, yeah. SpongeBob. You know, flipping burgers and then taking the orders just because my English was better than my parents. So I’d take the front of house and like, the Vegas. Um, I used to have to, like bus from Manukau City, like out South Auckland, all the way to the shore.
Is that so? Your parent’s place was on the shore?
Yeah, we had a place on the shore, like the shop was on the shore, but we were living in South Auckland back then. Yes. Um, so I would like as a ten year old, had to bus from there all the way to the shore. Wow. It was wild.
That’s, um. That’s a lot of trust. Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Mum showed me once, and then she was like, you’re sweet. Cool. I’ll see you on the shore.
I feel like, um. Yeah. You know, I guess we’re. Where are your. Where did your parents emigrated from?
Um. The Chinese.
Okay. So, yeah, often immigrant like, immigrants. Um, you know, they just have a slightly a bigger hustle on them. Yeah. Um, yeah, my parents immigrated as well. Um, but, yeah, they, um. Yeah, there’s a there’s a bit more of a hustle. You’ve got to push harder. You gotta. And they’re not, they’re not afraid to use. Yeah. You’re not afraid to use their kids, you know, to, to help like the family. Cause. Yeah. Exactly. Which is. Yeah. It’s cool. Like, I think it helps set you up.
I learned, oh, yeah, I learnt a lot. Like my dad. Like just being there and seeing all this stuff. So they obviously. Yeah. Transferred to. Yeah bro. And but at the same time obviously after working there at such a young age. Yes. I just hated like hospital. I was like, I’m never I’m not ever. Going to be in the industry ever. Um, and then, yeah.
One day you’re like, oh, I guess I know how to do it. And I’ve got a point.
And it’s not deep fried stuff. It’s not oily. Yeah, like its something I could eat every day. So yes.
That’s awesome. And, um. What? Um, so so you mentioned Takapuna. That was your first one? Yes. And where else have you opened up?
It was. Take a printer first. Yes. Um, obviously winged it. Yes. Um, should have asked for help. Um. And then opened in Britomart? Yes. And then that sort of became the main focus.
Is the take up anyone still there? No, no. Yeah. So we moved to the city and then had to just drop that one off. Yeah. Um.
Yeah, I think though. Yeah. Um, I’m also, I believe that, you know, the more you fail, the better you. Obviously you learn from every experience. So you know. Exactly. It’s just a learning. Um, so what did you learn from having, like, starting and Takapuna? I mean, that’s an expensive place. Not that Britomart isn’t either, but.
Yeah, to be surprised. Okay. Like, yeah. Take Athena would have been probably really high rent.
Yeah, it’s probably the same. But like I, I went into it with a vision of like this big space like. And I started off in the big space. We should have actually just started small like little keyhole. Yes. Um, but, hey.
Yeah.
You experience. Yeah.
But I love that, though. So you tried something out and the bits that worked, you transferred over. The bits that didn’t work. You left.
Yeah. So now we’re literally all in, like. All like. Well, the one store I’ve got now is like, a keyhole, like small store. Yeah. So I think progressing, uh, moving forward will probably just stick to that model.
Yeah, yeah. And I guess that’s kind of it makes sense because in a way, it’s like it is a takeaway shop. Yeah, but you’re offering something different because I think when most people think takeaways, they do think fried food. Even even like gourmet takeaways, they still end up being fried. They just, I don’t know, the chips are fatter and there’s a piece of lettuce in there. But yeah. But you know, it’s still it’s kind of the same food. It’s just like a bit a bit a bit fancier. So yeah, I think what I love about your bowl is that you are offering the same like ease ability that same. You don’t have to make it yourself that day, but it doesn’t mean you have to, I guess, mess up. I don’t know, for lack of another word. You’re, you know, your eating habits. You can you can get somebody else to do the hard work, eat something that tastes really good, and it’s still good for you as well.
Yeah. You just need more of that kind of stuff around. Like if you go to Aussie, like, they’re everywhere, like, you know, quick, healthy takeaway options. Whereas here we don’t have a whole lot.
How do you find that from a business perspective? Like do you find you have to do a lot of education around why people should have it? Yeah, okay.
Yeah. A lot of the times. Well, when I used to work in the store, but luckily I’ve got like two good, two good managers. Yes. But yeah, I used to hear people walk past and say that’s too healthy or like, oh, that’s I had healthy food yesterday.
It’s like, yeah, what does.
That even mean? Yeah. You know. Yeah. It’s like saying you’re too clean. So I’m not gonna have a shower today. Like, you know.
It’s weird. Yeah, I guess, um. Yeah. I mean, it’s it’s a case of like. Yeah, that re-education is so challenging, but I guess sampling, um, you know, once they try it and they see that. Oh, actually, healthy can be delicious. Yeah. Exactly. So then, yeah. Like to promote. Yeah. Nice. Delicious. But then, you know, it’s good for you.
Exactly. Um, so how do these. All these worlds collide? Like, obviously, I can see it’s all part of a bit of a holistic lifestyle, but how do you split your time? Um, in making sure that, you know, like, your mobility workshops and your, you know, your passion for physical health? Um, how does that work with, like, the community events you’re creating with Ice community and then. Yeah, but how do you juggle it all and stay. And stay live. And you look like you’re as you say you’re going. You’re shaving years off, not adding them on. So how do you. Yeah, how do you do it. What’s the what’s the magic?
I’m still trying to figure that out. I’m trying to build a good team. Luckily. Yeah, I’ve got a good team there, so there’s not a whole lot I needed. You know, do too much there because I’ve, you know, done the work in the earlier years. So now I’m trying to build out the Iceman stuff, kind of figure out where I want to take that, because it’s like a community, like, um, I guess organisation or just an event kind of platform. Um, so yeah, I’m just trying to figure out where to kind of move that. Yeah. And then, yeah, I’ve always been someone that chases like passion and fun. So like, everything that I do is, like you said, like I said, an extension of me. Yes. It’s all my interests. Right. Um, I’ve kind of just pursued everything that I enjoy doing. Um, so. Yeah. So with the mobility thing, I really think, um, I would like to settle into that.
Amazing. Would you say that your physical like your discipline? Um, you know, with the training, does that translate into how you run your businesses?
Oh, 100%. Yeah. Discipline. You know? Yeah. Yeah.
What do you do when, um, you know, you’re in a rut and you don’t feel like working on something or, you know, like this morning, you mentioned you had a a workshop. Like, was there a moment where you didn’t feel like going or what do you do in those moments?
Oh, I love my mornings. Okay. Wings are great. Yeah. Um, like I said, yeah, this is what I’ve decided to do. Like, I enjoy it, like, you know. Um, because if it’s not fun, I don’t tend to not like, you know, pursue it, but I just I just love the way the, you know, mobility makes people feel and like it makes me feel. And I feel a lot of people need to experience, you know, feeling good. Yeah. I feel like a lot of people don’t feel good. A lot of times.
Yeah. They just take they just accept it.
Yeah. And like, I wake up pretty much every day feeling great. Awesome. Um, yeah, I just I just feel so good. I just want people to, you know, feel it as well. Yeah. Um, so that’s why I, you know, I share the bar so I can. This is what I’ve been doing. This is how I’ve been eating. This is how I’ve been moving. Yes. Um, maybe you guys should try that and you’ll feel, you know.
Do you have, um, do you have any, like, I guess, examples of people that have come to you for support and you’ve seen them changing, um, like you’ve seen them change their habits and that changed their mindset?
Yeah, I think so. Yeah, definitely. I obviously work with clients as well. Yeah. But I do see it around the people. Yeah. Um, obviously online socials. Yes. Um, and yeah, friends that obviously, you know, adapt some of the stuff that you’ve been doing or you’ve been sharing. Um, and that’s also.
Talk to me, talk to me about social media. How does that play a part in, um, in your life? Um, on one hand, like, everything you do is so in the moment, but on the other hand, you know, you’ve also managed to develop a really strong presence online. Um, yeah, you’ve got, like, incredible content, beautiful photography. How does it all. Yeah. How What does social media mean to you?
Um, it’s. I think it’s just vital for business. Uh, we’re moving into that world where, you know, you’ve got to have presence online. Yeah. Um, you’ve got to invest in it. Um, but then that also comes down to. Yeah, like I said, spending that time alone, finding solitude and just, like, finding times to go offline as well. Yeah. So that’s another thing that I like to promote and like to do myself is just, yeah, spend some time where you’re like, you know, you don’t listen to anything. You don’t listen to music.
No scrolling.
No doom scrolling. Just get it. Get yourself in nature where there’s no reception. So then you’re forced to just, you know, disconnect. Yeah.
Um, I love that.
So, yeah, I kind of like to balance both those worlds that way.
Yeah, yeah. That’s amazing. Um, yeah. I wanted to ask also about, well, you mentioned nature. Um, like, I guess living in New Zealand. Um, there’s so many places that you can go, um, you know, and explore nature. Have you have you ever done any anything like. Like, have you ever bought any of your businesses like for example, ice community. Like into nature. Um, to be. And like sort of pulling in from our natural setting.
Yeah. I guess I immediately started, um, in our mate’s backyard. Yes. And then now I do it in Takapuna, just overlooking, um, you might have seen the. The beach. The beach, the marine Turtle Island. Um, so a lot of. Yeah, a lot of the practices I like to. Yeah. Do and like just beautiful settings. You know, a huge part of like the, like a huge part of the experience is always the view. Yes. And like the sun, ground like grass, greenery, nature. So. Yeah. No, I’m, I’m heavy on, you know. Yes. Yeah. Being in beautiful you know, New Zealand nature. Yeah.
I wonder if, um. Yeah. I guess your your time, uh, catching the bus from ten years old, exploring half of Auckland. Yeah, yeah. And it’s funny how, um. Yeah. Your parents, um, takeaway shoppers in Takapuna. And now, you know your first year ball was there. And now yeah, Ice Minute is there. Do you feel like is it Rangitoto. Is it the water or like.
What is close to the beach. It’s close to being being like and in view of like the ocean or being accessible. Like having the ocean accessible. Yes. Nothing like five, ten minutes. Yeah yeah. Yeah. That’s key. Yeah.
There’s nothing that beats the ocean, honestly. Yeah. We’re so lucky. I feel like that’s something that we’re so lucky to have in New Zealand. It’s just like beaches everywhere. Yeah. Amazing. And what about, um. Yeah, I guess you also did jiu jitsu, is that right?
No, no, I, I’ve always wanted to do. Ah. So I’ve done something that you want to do. Yeah. Oh okay. There’s a lot of things I want to do. Yeah, but it’s just funny at the time. Okay. But I think maybe once I get older. Yeah. Food devil. Okay. Okay. Yeah. What is it about it that draws to you, like, draws your interest?
Um, from what I’ve been told or, like, what I’ve seen, it’s just like, yeah, human Tetris, like, wow. Like, you know, because it’s non-contact. You’re just trying to figure out a puzzle. Yeah. And I love that. It’s okay. You know. Yeah. And you’re moving your body in a natural way. Yes. Um, and I think I think, yeah, what I’ve been doing will transfer quite nicely. Yeah. I can say. We’ll see. Yeah, I see that. Oh, amazing. And what about. Um, obviously, like, you have created community with people that are interested, but what about people in your, like, family or your circles growing up that might have not had this sort of epiphany moment? These, like, you know, this all natural progression to live like this. What? Like, yeah. What do they think about, um, about this lifestyle? Like, do you ever get any negative feedback or is there anything that you ever have to kind of work against that you. Yeah, I guess growing up that your lifestyle now might be different from it was, but like what it might have been earlier on. What’s the is there any sort of pushback or anything you have to go off against?
Um, just I guess parents like what they. Yeah, what they want you to do and what they, um, encourage you to do. And. Yes. I don’t know. I think I’ve always just taken, like a pay cut and just gone for, like, the passion. Like rice. You know, if it doesn’t feel my passion. Honestly, I don’t really care too much about the money. Like, it’ll come because. Yeah, I know that I can offer the value and I’ll find some sort of, you know, way to make more money. But at the at this time, at this time in life, I think I like to pursue the passion. Yeah, side of things.
And I think I love that because there’s a famous story about, like a man who, you know, sees a fisherman and he says, oh, you know, how many fish are you catching? And he’s just, you know, five, ten or whatever it is. And he says, oh, well, why don’t you get, you know, the boat and, you know, get a ride. And he goes, what will I do? And he goes, oh, then you’re buying more boats and you’ll buy dinner, you know, like progressive. And he goes, and then what will you do with your time? And ends up being like a description of what he’s already doing? Yeah. And I think about that all the time because you do sometimes it’s for glory, sometimes it’s for like a dream that you think. Yeah, you always sort of like, as you know, as a fellow business owner, you’re striving towards a particular moment. Like 40 thieves, we’re we’re trying, you know, to be a pantry staple and everybody’s, um, like, you know, in New Zealand and abroad. But ultimately, our, like, mission statement is fuelling every day and epic adventures. Um, and it’s like, it’s so great for us to have that mission because it means that we are able to and on the weekends, or if you’ve got a spare moment during the week to make sure that we’re living and breathing that mission and not just following the growth. Um, yeah. I think a business like growth is sort of like, you know, you have to grow your business for it to kind of survive. But if you’re not, if you’re like, what is the outcome that you’re after? You know, like and and I guess, yeah, in your case, you’re saying I’m happy to pursue my desired lifestyle right now. Yeah. Um, rather than waiting for this moment in the future where I’ve, like, unlocked it.
Yeah, exactly. Yeah.
Yeah, that’s I mean, that’s that’s legendary. Because not everybody, not everybody can see that. Um, yeah. I think it’s like a it’s the journey that you’re enjoying as well.
Yeah. That’s a huge. Yeah, I think I just enjoy the journey. Yes.
Yeah, yeah. Well, what would your ideal, I guess your ideal day look like? Give me the the best day you could have.
Oh, wow. I do day. Um, yeah. Start off with some sort of delayed gratification where it’s like cold sauna or like a satellite run. I think. Nothing too crazy for the nervous system in the morning. Um, and then. Yeah, just a slow, like some, like, like a good breakfast and then maybe tuck into, like, a couple hours of work. Yeah, I like to do, like, short, late, 90 minute late sprints. Yeah. And then change something else, whether it’s like filming content or like doing things, um, outside of, um, sitting down. Yeah. Um, and then. Yeah. Do a workout midday, you know, mid-morning. Midday ish. Yeah. Um, that’ll be a good day. Yeah.
Amazing. Yeah.
And it’s all about movement and just having a good balance. Like lifestyle. Really?
Awesome. Yeah, I love it. But second last question. Um, You’ve designed your favourite day and you know that it’s good for your mental and physical health. For someone who’s like, right now, you know, on their computer ten hours a day on the phone when they get home, not, you know, not exercising, not eating well, like, how do they how do you get out of it? What’s the first step? Like what do you if they’re interested, you know, what’s the what’s the first step to kind of changing your lifestyle when it feels far away.
Oh we’ll just start exercising. Start moving. Yeah. First. Yeah. Um, because once you start moving the body, things start to tick over. You start to, you know, find things that you enjoy. Um, and you just just kind of feel good, you know, you just start feeling good, and then your thoughts are going to start, you know, changing, changing. They’re going to start like, you know, blossoming. So yeah, start by moving and then yeah. Um, ask yourself like, what are you. Are you enjoying what you’re doing? Is this taking you like, is this fuelling your passion? Like you’re being creative in some way or shape or form? Um, and then, yeah, once you get to that point, It’s like, are you happy? That’s a huge one. Yes. You know, just asking yourself, like, am I happy here? Like, do I like this job? If you’re whining about your boss or like, complaining all the time, what are you doing? Like just change. Like. Yeah. Don’t be saying.
Don’t be afraid to try things.
Exactly. Go learn something. Like, you can learn so much now for free. Yeah. You know. Um. And then. Yeah. Just figure out, um, what’s another one? Yes. Like, if there’s something that, you know, you’re constantly thinking about, like we’re in the shower or like, when you’re driving. Yeah. Maybe pursue that, like, you know.
Yeah. What’s stopping you from being that person? Like, what is the barrier? Um.
What are you into? Find that passion project and, like, start, you know, watering that. Um, and so. Yeah, chipping away at that. Yeah.
I love that. Okay. Well, my very last question is, are you smooth or crunchy?
Crunchy.
Okay. Yeah. Okay, we got a chance. We got a chance with the peanut butters. All right. Yeah. Cheers to, uh. Smashing PBs, Getting up and smashing your next PB.
