Summary

1:15 Introducing Paul Gleeson and his major accomplishments

2:00 Paul�s background and upbringing

His childhood in Limerick

How his own outlook was shaped by his parents� core beliefs

His mother�s motto: There is no such thing as � can�t �

5:00 Paul�s past in the world of finance

How he knew early on that finance wasn�t his passion

Living and working in wealth management in Canada

The effect that early adventure trips had on his desire for more

7:00 The power of language

Alternatives to the word �quit� and �failure�

Ciar�n Kilkenny�s �weak foot� as an example of the power of words

9:00 Body/mind connections

Muscle memory and the brain�s response to practised behaviours

The power of visualization

The connection between brain, heart and gut

The importance of listening to your � gut � and getting out of your head

12:45 Inspirational books

�Unsung Hero� by Tom Crean

�It�s Not About the Bike� by Lance Armstrong

Paul�s inspiration to cycle from Limerick to Dublin

About Tom Crean�s book: �It just ignited something in me�

14:45 Paul�s first big trip: cycling across Australia

On long endurance trips: �The body will follow the mind�

Cycling as a wonderful, slow way to discover a place

His questionable adventures with Nullarbor Plain locals

Finishing the race on an undersized borrowed bike after an accident

20:35 The Talisker Atlantic Row

Rowing with Tori Holmes from the Canary islands to the Caribbean

Taking this on as non-rowers: �Learning how to row isn�t that hard�

�Choose who you listen to�: their relationship with Eamonn and Peter Kavanagh, the only Irish rowers to have participated in the race

The physical challenges of the first training day

The importance of �mental toughness�

24:40 The departure

Eamonn and Peter Kavanagh�s show of faith in their crossing

27:00 Ocean conditions on the Atlantic

Dealing with 30-60 ft waves

The challenge of being alone for months

Working in 2h shifts for 24 hours, leading to sleep deprivation and hallucination

Rowing nude to avoid chafing and sores

Breaking things down �hour by hour, day by day�

How it feels to lose sight of land

30:35 Keeping their spirits up

On hard days, reading letters written by friends and family

33:00 The impact of the trip

How this challenge changed his perspective and outlook on life

35:10 Changing your life

�The Top Five Regrets of the Dying� by Bonnie Ware

How to form new habits quickly

How crisis can bring about change

Why change requires connecting to sense of urgency

Conscious decision-making

Being aware of how little time we have left to live

40:14 The 3rd person on the boat

The eerie feeling that someone else was with them on the boat

Closeness to death and fear of frequent hurricanes and tropical storms

44:15 The beauty of the ocean

Their rare wildlife sightings

Being �in the moment�

Their fear of sharks

48:05 Turas Consulting

Why Paul chose the name Turas

Paul�s job as a performance coach and facilitator

The importance of each individual in the team: �Everyone�s on a journey�

Physically experiencing what it means to work together

50:43 Immersive learning

Paul�s partnership with AIP Group

Defining adventure-based learning

�Something always goes wrong� : how adventure can enhance leadership behaviour

Why emotional engagement leads to retaining more information

Learning how to use guiding principles and values to make decisions

55:25 Learning by doing

The long-term effects of this type of learning

Paul�s role in ensuring accountability and providing support for behavioural changes

The importance of having a strong sense of purpose as a company and an individual

58:00 Purpose

Simon Sinek�s writings on purpose

Purpose as one of the building blocks to grit

58:48 Changes seen in teams

The lack of human connection in virtual teams

Understanding your teammates� behaviour by getting to know them as individuals

1:00:58 Reaching your potential

How competition forces you to push yourself

Connecting to reasons and motivation for doing what you do

For Paul, moments of innovation often happen outside, near water, while in motion

1:04:41 Love conquers fear

How loving someone will make you want what�s best for them and will push them to do more

1:06:05 Emotional and mental health

The effect of the environment on mindset

The importance of daily care of emotional and mental health

Distinguishing between our macro environment (which we have no control over) and our micro environment (which we can control)

The effect of poor relationships on our life

1:08:44 Priming tools

How our subconscious is always being primed

Integrating �trigger words� in our environment

Mauricio Estrella�s simple computer password trick to develop new habits

Vision boards, setting intentions, and gratitude exercises

The power of our subconscious

1:12:46 Digital + interactive technology

Our shrinking attention and focus levels

Taking responsibility for our use of technology

The value of smartphone breaks

1:15:17 Connecting with nature

The logic behind prescribing nature walks for mental health

Camping trips as a way to connect to nature and experience quiet

1:17:40 Studies in psychology

Paul�s interest in positive psychology

Martin Seligman�s contribution to the field

The misrepresentations of positive psychology

The importance of taking ownership and being proactive in one�s own life

Why the term �wellbeing� means very little

1:21:08 Rowing through the Northwest Passage

One of the last human �firsts�

Paul�s meeting with Kevin Vallely

The changes in ice conditions caused by climate change

1:23:21 Preparing for the Northwest Passage

Building a custom rowing boat that could withstand the Arctic conditions

The many challenges specific to this location and climate

Rowing in poorly-charted waters

The different levels of experience in their party of 4

1:27:07 Outside navigators

The fans and followers providing them with regular ice and weather forecasts

1:29:34 The impact of climate change

What they learned from speaking to local elders

Observing a changing ocean and new animal species

1:32:06 The status of today�s sea ice

The significant decrease in sea ice

Why climate change denial is not to be taken seriously

Questioning our lack of action in the face of climate change

�My fear is that history will judge us as the generation who did nothing about it�

1:35:30 The economic impact of climate change

How climate change can also bring opportunity

Why our lack of connection to nature may lead to a lack of care for the planet

Following the Celtic calendar to connect to seasonal rituals and phases

1:38:50 Fear

The different levels of fear: physical fear, fear of judgment, fear of failure

How we can change our relationship to fear

The acronym Paul uses for FEAR: Fuel that can Energize you to Achieve Results

The importance of finding the reason behind the fear

Paul�s biggest fear

1:41:06 Impending fatherhood

The potential impact of fatherhood on Paul�s relationship with adventure

Planning trips as a family

1:43:40 Advice to young people

Listen to your heart and follow your values