2023: The year I recharged
Highlights and Lessons Learned
This time 2 years ago I was depressed.
1 year ago, I was overwhelmed.
But now I’m firing and will remember 2023 as the year I recharged.
It’s been 10+ years since I’ve felt this good heading into the holidays, and looking back on the year I’ve had, it’s easy to see why.
Highlights:
- had its best year in ages, which was a site for sore eyes after the pandemic. Anzac Day was our biggest day ever thanks to a huge turnout to our dawn service that’s now become a foreshore tradition.
Lest we forget We also launched our new beer garden in time for summer and won best sports bar for the 8th time.
Travis Fimmel (aka Ragnar Lothbrok) also launched his beer Travla at the Dock. The day being such a success that we ended up investing, as we’re keen to help them take down Fosters.
I went to NZ for the Bledisloe Cup - Great effort from the Wallabies to almost edge the All Blacks and got to catch up with some old mates.
I also went to Paris and Switzerland for my 10th wedding anniversary. Also got to see my sister and went to the semis and final of the Rugby World Cup.
I also wrote Rugby articles during the World Cup for the Code and Daily Telegraph
- went from strength to strength as we did our second trip to the City2Surf, which is fast becoming my favourite day of the year! Check out our highlight video below and crank the volume up.
R4R also had its first gala night, which was a great success despite minimal planning!
R4R also launched Strolling 4 Resilience - a walk for Mums or anyone who the 6:15am or 6pm times don’t suit.
And we recently launched Recovery 4 Resilience to help prevent everyone from getting injured.
Had a full nose reconstruction - Already feeling calmer and sleeping better. Who would have thought breathing was so important?!
A new nose made of rib cartlidge I got the snip. No more kids lol.
Alfred passed 200,000 meals tracked.
Started a new chapter for Alfred, as I finally stomached up the courage to shut it down until I find a co-founder.
Ran my 200th parkrun
Averaged just short of 8hrs sleep per night - up from 6:31 in 2019.
Wrote my 150th blog and changed the name from “Struggling” to “Transitions” and will now focus on what I’m doing well in my transition from sport.
Interviewed Dylan Alcott at
And finally, I realised what my strengths are.
Lessons Learned:
Finding alignment with teammates is everything.
Being clear is better than being smart.
If I’m busy, it’s usually because I’m unorganised or haven’t said “no” enough
Done is better than perfect
The thing I fear doing most is often the thing I most need to do
Not knowing what my strengths are is a sign I’ve been too hard on myself
Strengths can become weaknesses if you use them too much
The more I slow my brain down, the better decisions I make, and the faster I’ll go
I need to lean into how I’m different more
I do not have the energy to get an idea to it’s full potential alone
Incentives matter
Eddie Jones is a liar
Anyways, back to work before signing off to recharge more with family over the break. Excited to see where my energy levels are at in Jan, as I already could not be more excited for 2024!
Love this Ben! You’ve had a massive year. I did too, especially with losing my Mum 12 months ago & then renovating the kitchen…and some surgery but I feel like I lost sight of my health & fitness & it definitely has had an affect on my mental health. I’m trying to use this year to reset…. Especially as I’ll be looking after my new granddaughter this year. I want to be in a good place for her.
Nice write up of the year Ben, your lessons learnt are effective one. I like the most is "Done is better than perfect"
Thanks for your guidance especially in sleep and screen time tracker leader board, it makes me more accountable towards those.