Feeling stuck and directionless in your 40s? Stop fighting head-on battles against mid-life stagnation – that’s attrition warfare and it’s a waste of energy. Instead, embrace the ancient art of manoeuvre. This newsletter explores how strategic positioning, flexible planning, creating dilemmas, and calculated disorder can help you navigate challenges with ease, leading to renewed purpose and “easy victories” by outsmarting the predictable forces holding you back. It’s time to be smarter, not just tougher.

This article uses the lens of modern military strategy to help men over 40 navigate feelings of stagnation and find renewed purpose. Drawing parallels between evolving warfare tactics (hybrid, information, cyber) and the challenges of middle age, it provides a frank and actionable framework for conducting a personal strategic review and launching a multi-pronged "offensive" against inertia, focusing on mental, physical, and emotional "logistics."

Drawing parallels from the historical strategies of Neville Chamberlain and Winston Churchill in the face of Nazi Germany, this piece challenges men in their 40s and 50s to confront midlife stagnation not with passive appeasement, but with active rearmament and defiance. It argues that avoiding discomfort and difficulty in life, much like Chamberlain's policy of appeasement, ultimately emboldens the "threats" of dissatisfaction and unrealised potential, leading to decline. Instead, it advocates for a Churchillian approach: facing reality, investing in personal "rearmament" (skills, health, purpose), setting boundaries, and finding one's voice to fight for a more fulfilling future.

Midlife Stagnation as Hybrid Warfare: The feeling of being stuck or dissatisfied in middle age isn't usually a sudden, dramatic event, but a slower, more insidious process akin to modern hybrid or cyber warfare. It lacks a clear declaration of crisis and operates in the blurred lines between apparent "peace" and internal conflict. Internal Infrastructure Under Attack: Just as cyber-attacks target crucial civilian infrastructure (power grids, communications), midlife stagnation erodes vital personal "systems" like energy levels, motivation, and sense of purpose. These are subtle but critical targets. Asymmetry of Inner Conflict: The internal voice of doubt or apathy might seem small and low-cost, but it can have a disproportionately high impact, hindering initiative and leading to significant long-term dissatisfaction, much like a low-cost cyber-attack causing widespread disruption. Need for Evolved Tactics: Traditional, "brute force" approaches or simply ignoring the problem (like relying on outdated WWI tactics) are ineffective against this modern form of internal "conflict." Navigating midlife requires adapting strategies, much like modern militaries have had to evolve from trench warfare to cyber and information warfare. Actionable Takeaways: The solution lies in recognising the subtle nature of the challenge, actively protecting personal "infrastructure" (well-being, energy), and employing "asymmetric defence" – small, consistent actions that cumulatively shift the balance.

This piece argues that men facing middle age stagnation should abandon conventional approaches to self-improvement and instead adopt a "guerrilla warfare" strategy, drawing parallels with the tactics of Mao Tse-Tung and Che Guevara. It defines key terms related to conflict, clarifies the differences between conventional and guerrilla warfare (highlighting the strengths of agility, terrain knowledge, and resourcefulness in the latter), and suggests applying these principles to the internal battle against inertia and apathy. The core message is to embrace unconventional, targeted actions, driven by an internal "foco" or purpose, to achieve a "revolution" in personal vitality and agency through a "protracted war" against stagnation.

This blog offers a strategic framework for men in their 40s to navigate middle age and overcome stagnation, drawing parallels with military grand strategy. The core argument is that life at this stage often involves feeling stuck and reactive to minor issues – "battles" – but true progress comes from identifying and pursuing a larger objective – the "war." This requires a "grand strategy" focused on long-term goals and a clear vision of one's "life's task," rather than getting bogged down in immediate emotional responses. The text emphasises the importance of "knowing your enemy," which includes both external pressures and, crucially, internal self-doubt and inertia. This "intelligence strategy" involves self-reflection to understand personal weaknesses, fears, and hidden motivations, much like analysing an opponent's vulnerabilities. It also suggests observing oneself in challenging situations ("moments of crisis") to reveal true behaviour and identify "masked opposites" in one's personality. The summary concludes by stressing that self-knowledge and strategy must be dynamic, adapting to the changing landscape of life.

Drawing lessons from military theorists J.F.C. Fuller and B.H. Liddell Hart, this piece argues that men facing middle-age stagnation can find inspiration in their ideas on manoeuvre, disruption, and adaptation. By applying principles of identifying and striking at key weaknesses (Fuller) or employing indirect, out-of-the-ordinary approaches (Liddell Hart), individuals can overcome inertia and revitalise their lives, much like a military force breaking through a static defensive line. The key is to avoid rigidity and embrace strategic, perhaps unconventional, movement.

his newsletter uses the teachings of Musashi's "The Book of Five Rings" to provide a strategy for men over 40 to overcome mid-life stagnation. It provides actionable advice based on the five elements of the book to help them regain control, discipline, and direction in their lives.

The blog is a motivational guide for men aged 40+ dealing with midlife stagnation. It uses the analogy of medieval warfare to encourage viewers to reclaim their lives by re-evaluating their priorities, fortifying their strengths, and breaking through personal barriers. The video combines historical examples, practical exercises, and community support to offer actionable advice in a humorous and relatable manner. The goal is to empower men to take charge, conquer their challenges, and find renewed purpose in middle age.

Roman military success stemmed from its organised legions, innovative formations like the Testudo, and strategic approaches such as the Fabian Strategy. Legions were flexible, standardised, and well-supplied. The Testudo provided protection against projectiles, while the Fabian Strategy aimed to weaken enemies through attrition. The Roman legion's adaptability and versatility made it superior to the Greek phalanx, which was rigid and limited by terrain. Roman legions, with their flexible structure and diverse weaponry, proved more effective across various battlefield conditions, leading to greater military achievements.

Alright, let's talk Clausewitz. My friend recently said that trying to understand Clausewitz is like trying to understand quantum physics: nobody reallygets it. And honestly, after wrestling with "On War," I'm starting to think they're right. First off, the dude writes like he's trying to win a Nobel Prize for complicated sentences. Seriously, is it just a bad translation from 1830s German, or was Carl naturally convoluted? I even wondered if, after getting his "von" and becoming nobility, he was trying to sound more important than he was. Maybe that accounts for some of the language.

Ever feel like life's a battlefield? (Okay, maybe not literally, but you get the idea). Well, Sun Tzu’s "The Art of War" is surprisingly relevant to, well, everything. Don't let the title scare you; it's not just for generals. Let's break down the 5 Basic Principles that can help you win, whether you're negotiating a raise, starting a business, or just trying to get your kids to eat their vegetables.

Sun Tzu's Core 5:…