The Freedom Project

In this episode, we break down why shifting your focus from mental health to mental fitness can transform your life. While mental health aims to keep you free from illness, mental fitness equips you to meet life’s challenges head-on, helping you not just survive, but thrive.  We dive deep into the pitfalls of our culture’s obsession with mental health and how it unintentionally holds high-achievers back. By aiming solely for mental health, we risk capping our potential. Instead, building mental fitness opens up your capacity to take on stress, fear, and obstacles without being overwhelmed. It’s about training resilience, cultivating clarity, and developing your character to become the best version of yourself. Learn how training your mental fitness shifts your perspective from seeing challenges as threats to seeing them as opportunities for growth. With the right mindset and practice, you can boost your ability to achieve success in business, personal development, and relationships, all while building a protective buffer against life’s inevitable hardships.

In this conversation, Michael Norton discusses his journey with the Enneagram, a tool for self-awareness and personal growth. He explains how the Enneagram can enhance collaboration and communication in both personal and professional settings. The discussion covers the importance of self-awareness in leadership, the process of identifying one's Enneagram type, and the significance of acceptance in personal development. Norton also provides insights into the nine Enneagram types and their characteristics, emphasising the journey of self-discovery and the need to let go of rigid identities. Michael coaches teams and leaders from a range of industries using somatic, vocal, improvisational, and consciousness tools. He reliably balances depth and humor, drawing clients to his warmth, compassion, and willingness to be with even the most uncomfortable experiences. Michael has a BA in acting from Emerson College and an MFA in performance research from The Royal Central School of Speech and Drama. He is a Certified Enneagram Teacher and Certified Enneagram Coach from the Narrative Enneagram, and a certified 15 Commitments Coach. He co-directs The Enneagram Group along with Debbie Burditt.  --------- The Enneagram Group: https://www.enneagram.is/

In the blistering heat of Western Australia, a small group of weary soldiers faced an unexpected enemy. Armed with 10,000 rounds each and every ounce of determination they could muster, they were tasked with taking down an invasion force of 20,000. But their adversaries weren’t elite special forces—they were emus. Yes, emus. In this episode, we dive into the tale of the Great Emu War of 1932, an infamous campaign where Australian troops found themselves outwitted and outmaneuvered by a flock of massive, flightless birds. The operation became a public embarrassment, exposing critical flaws in strategy, communication, and clarity. Using this surreal story as a springboard, we explore how lack of clear goals, vision, and alignment can doom even the most well-equipped efforts. Just like these soldiers found themselves lost and overwhelmed, many entrepreneurs struggle to set meaningful goals and find direction in their work. But it doesn’t have to be that way. Tune in to learn how setting clear, purposeful goals can transform your business and life, saving you from your own version of the “Great Emu War.” And don’t miss the chance to read more on this at TomFoxley.me/blog, where you’ll find practical tips to align your goals, avoid wasted effort, and create the success you’re looking for. ---- Blog link: https://www.tomfoxley.me/post/nested-goals

If you’re feeling lost in your business or questioning why you’re still pushing through, this episode is for you. We’ll dive deep into finding clarity, silencing that distracting mental chatter, and aligning your goals with what you truly want from life—not just in business, but in every aspect. Too often, we get caught up in the hustle, following a path that feels inauthentic, chasing a version of success that isn’t really ours. In this episode, I’ll help you break free from that cycle by exploring the four key "freedom currencies" that every entrepreneur should aim for—financial, geographical, time, and personal freedom. These currencies are the pillars of living a life by your design, not one dictated by the mainstream. We’ll ask the tough questions: How free do you feel right now, truly? Are you living the life you want, or just spinning plates, chained to your business? You’ll discover how to re-engineer your life, reverse the grind, and design a future where freedom is the norm, not the exception. If you’re ready to escape the noise, clarify your path, and unlock the personal freedom that empowers everything else, this episode is your roadmap. Tune in to learn how to start living life on your terms.

In this conversation, Tom and Mark explore the transformative power of journaling as a tool for self-discovery and emotional intelligence. Mark shares his journey of writing and the importance of truth in personal narratives. They discuss the subjective nature of truth, the role of emotions in Stoicism, and how embracing vulnerability can lead to authenticity. The conversation emphasizes the significance of questioning one's identity and the potential for originality found in our quirks and limitations. Mark provides practical advice for effective journaling, including crafting prompts and overcoming resistance, ultimately highlighting journaling as a powerful modality for personal growth and understanding. Chapters: 00:00  Introduction to the Power of Truth and Writing 03:11   The Journey of Self-Discovery through Journaling 05:53  Understanding Subjective Truth and Emotional Intelligence  09:03  The Role of Emotions in Stoicism and Self-Reflection 11:47   The Importance of Authenticity in Journaling 15:06  Facing Fears and Embracing Vulnerability in Writing 17:51   The Process of Deconstructing Identity through Journaling 20:55  Finding Originality in Our Quirks and Limitations 23:48  The Role of Gender in Emotional Expression 26:57  Navigating Self-Inquiry and Emotional Blocks 29:48  Starting the Journey of Self-Discovery 32:56  Crafting Effective Journaling Prompts 35:48  Overcoming Resistance in Journaling 38:48  The Balance between Depth and Focus in Writing 41:52   Empowering Self-Discovery through Journaling 44:57  Practical Tips for Effective Journaling 48:08  The Seekers Forum and Final Thoughts

Welcome to The Freedom Project Podcast, In this episode, we challenge the hustle and grind mentality that dominates today’s business culture. I explore a different kind of success story—one that feels more attainable, yet just as inspiring. Meet Laura Roeder, a self-made millionaire who built a $10 million net worth working part-time hours. No silver spoon, no superhuman intellect—just a killer mindset and a clear vision. Laura’s journey defies the traditional narrative of endless sacrifice. She set aggressive goals, balanced work with life, and created financial, geographical, and time freedom—on her own terms. Her story is a powerful reminder that freedom isn’t just for the Elon Musks of the world; it’s within reach for you, too. I’ll share the five key mindset shifts that helped Laura achieve her remarkable success, and how you can apply them to your own life to create the freedom you crave. Head over to TomFoxley.me/post/laura for my full breakdown. Get ready to rethink how you approach success and start building your own path to true freedom.   Blog Link: https://www.tomfoxley.me/post/laura

In this episode, we dive deep into Parkinson's Law—a principle that can transform your productivity and skyrocket your results. Whether you’re a business owner racing to meet deadlines or simply trying to squeeze more out of your day, this concept could be the game-changer you need. I’ll break down how to leverage time constraints, obliterate excuses, and multiply your output, all by understanding how this law works. Want more? Head over to my blog at TomFoxley.me to read my article Stop Wasting Your Life and take your productivity to the next level.   Blog Link: https://www.tomfoxley.me/post/stop-wasting-your-life-the-power-of-parkinson-s-law-for-achieving-more-with-less 

Today I'm joined by Don Lesar. Don acts as a rehabilitation and performance consultant for both the Arc’teryx Global Athlete Team and the Guide Team for Selkirk Tangiers Heli Skiing. With a heavy emphasis on education and tailored mobility, strength, power and stability training plans, he can ensure his athletes perform their best and recover optimally. Don is the founder of the IBEX Project. A project and performance programme designed to get you prepared for the mountains both physically and mentally. We go into depth on some nuances of how to train physically to become mountain ready and explore the pursuit of individuality and balancing both business growth with personal growth.  Enjoy!! ---------- IBEX Project: https://www.ibex-project.com/ IBEX Project Instagram: @ibex_project Don's Instagram: @moutainathletephysio

In this episode, Tom Foxley shares a deeply personal journey into mastering the mindset of success, especially for those of us who’ve struggled with hitting glass ceilings, plateauing, or feeling stuck despite trying everything. Tom reveals the missing link in most personal growth efforts and explains why some strategies—whether meditation, therapy, or mindset work—only take some people so far. He dives into the three critical zones of change that every business owner, athlete, or high-performer must understand to unlock their full potential: the nervous system, the stories we tell ourselves, and the philosophies we live by.  Tom challenges the traditional approach to personal development, showing why mindset work alone isn't enough if the body isn't regulated first, and how these levels must be addressed in the right order to create lasting transformation. Tune in to discover why personal growth can feel so elusive and what truly makes success inevitable. This episode is a must-listen if you're ready to stop spinning your wheels and master the mentality needed to thrive in both business and life. --------- Blog Link: https://www.tomfoxley.me/post/why-personal-growth-fails-the-3-hidden-zones-you-must-master-to-truly-transform

In this episode, I share the story of James, a business owner trapped in the endless grind, constantly working but seeing little progress. Like many entrepreneurs, he was stuck in a cycle of stress, hustling from dawn till dusk, and still feeling like he was falling short—at the expense of his happiness, his marriage, and ultimately his business. His fear of running out of time, money, and opportunities drove him into overdrive, yet the harder he worked, the less he achieved. If you're a business owner struggling to switch off, this episode is for you. I’ll show you how James' mental state wasn't just a side effect of his lack of success—it was the *cause* of it. You’ll learn why the hustle-and-grind mentality can actually limit your productivity and creativity, and how working less can unlock more success.  Tune in to discover how to break free from the grind and master the mentality that leads to true success. -------- Blog Link: https://www.tomfoxley.me/post/why-working-less-can-make-you-more-productive-the-power-of-rest-and-balance-in-business