The Jabber

The straw hat episode resonated because everyone secretly wants to stand out. Exploring the ‘cringe barrier,’ the true ‘aspirational branding’ of individuality, and how to build a crew (or a life) that can handle the social friction tax. Inspired by Monkey D. Luffy. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit keepjabberi...

Research shows that five minutes of sleep, two minutes of exercise, and half a serving of veg can add a year to your life. Exploring why ‘stacking small’ beats ‘going big,’ and how to reclaim your longevity through the path of least resistance. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit keepjabbering.substack.com

We’ve all sat in sessions where the targets feel like science fiction. Exploring the psychological necessity of ‘seeing it to believe it’ versus the operational reality of ‘doing it to survive it.’ How to set goals that stretch the spirit without snapping the spine. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit keepjabberi...

A recent $6 million award against a social media giant suggests a massive shift is coming. Exploring the ‘warning label’ future, the absurdity of the ‘digital smoking room,’ and why education - not just regulation - is the only way to reclaim our focus. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit keepjabbering.substack.c...

A friendly game of end-of-season cricket left a trail of sore bodies and a realisation: You can’t live a sedentary lifestyle and expect peak performance on demand. Exploring the ‘padel boom,’ the chiropractor’s dividend, and the importance of ‘greasing the groove.’ This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit keepjabberin...

We all remember the one-ply hostel days - a character-building trauma. But as we move up the ladder of quality, we hit a ceiling where ‘better’ is just a marketing label. Exploring the sweet spot of value and the gimmick of the upper tier. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit keepjabbering.substack.com

We’ve all been there - the goal was reached, the decision was correct, but the way it was handled left everyone involved feeling worse. Exploring why a ‘righteous why’ doesn't excuse a ‘wrecked how.’ This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit keepjabbering.substack.com

Watching financial influencer Nischa sparked a deep dive into ‘moving goalposts.’ Exploring how aspirational branding and social media have hijacked our ‘why,’ and how to reclaim your own definition of financial independence. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit keepjabbering.substack.com

A dead car at school pickup revealed a brutal lesson in value. Exploring the ‘warranty wall,’ why quality name brands are a hedge against chaos, and how to spot the difference between a bargain and a liability. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit keepjabbering.substack.com

My eldest biked to the shop. A simple errand, but a massive psychological hurdle. Exploring the ‘car key’ conundrum, the fear of the ‘what if,’ and why we must love our children enough to let them face the road. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit keepjabbering.substack.com

Watching Netflix’s One Piece with my youngest sparked a realisation: The ‘pirate’ isn't a villain; it’s a mindset. Exploring why the ‘chase’ is more important than the ‘treasure’ and the value of shared adventure. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit keepjabbering.substack.com

If your decision was plastered on a street-pole headline tomorrow, would you stand by it? Exploring the Warren Buffett ‘newspaper test’ and why comfortable transparency is the ultimate goal of a sovereign life. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit keepjabbering.substack.com

After the high of our annual conference, the crash has arrived. Exploring why we feel ‘the wall’ mid-week, the importance of the Monday Rule, and how to find the ‘rest station’ between the sprints of life. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit keepjabbering.substack.com

Exploring the frustration of Max Verstappen, the ’losers' limp,’ and why the pursuit of perfect regulation is creating a new kind of sporting mediocrity. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit keepjabbering.substack.com

Max Dowman scores at 16 and the media crowns him. But history shows that early brilliance is often a mirage. We explore the ‘survival bias’ of the Premier League and why the ‘slow burn’ beats the ’flash in the pan.’ This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit keepjabbering.substack.com

Exploring the conflict of social media ‘shorts,’ why taking guests out of context is a long-term brand killer, and how to build an engaged following without selling your soul to the scroll. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit keepjabbering.substack.com

Exploring the cost-benefit analysis of work travel, the ‘bubble’ of the conference circuit, and the unseen weight placed on the partner who stays behind. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit keepjabbering.substack.com

Exploring the ‘uncanny valley’ of perfect nature reels, why my dog’s bark stayed in the edit, and the mathematical value of being unpolished. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit keepjabbering.substack.com

From CVs for 12-year-olds to the ‘open day’ gauntlet, we look at the institutional stress-test of high school applications and why a ‘no’ might be the best thing that ever happens to your child. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit keepjabbering.substack.com

Exploring the power of the ‘half-full’ flip, the endurance of hardships through the lens of Viktor Frankl, and why ‘this too shall pass’ is the ultimate mathematical truth of history. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit keepjabbering.substack.com

Schools and workplaces love to use the word ‘voluntary,’ but the subconscious pressure to conform is a powerful engine. This episode explores the conflict of the Grade 7 camp, the ‘hidden curriculum’ of institutional bonding, and why teaching your child to say 'no' might be the best high school prep there is. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get...

Pure commission is a gamble on your anxiety. In this episode, I share a personal business pivot: why my work colleagues and I chose a balanced salary/incentive model, and how ‘lifting the weight’ of lopsided risk has unleashed a new wave of energy. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit keepjabbering.substack.com

What do you do when something you said or wrote no longer fits the reality of today? We discuss the ‘contradiction trap,’ the importance of staying kind when things go sideways, and why the only way to stay true to yourself is to keep speaking, even when the script changes. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit kee...

We hit 10 subscribers. In this episode, we talk about why the ‘initial friction’ is the hardest part of any pivot. We explore the philosophy of compounding - not just in finance, but in showing up, building trust, and honoring the few before you reach the many. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit keepjabbering.su...

Is the world actually worse than it’s ever been? This week, inspired by a thought from Vestact’s Byron Lotter, we look at the historical perspective of struggle. From near-misses with conscription to the modern career grind, we explore why our current ‘shitshow’ is actually a sign of the incredible freedom and choice we often take for granted. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss...