Host Tarek welcomed special guest Ben Wisbey, a performance scientist with over 20 years of experience helping elite athletes reach their peak. Ben is also the founder of Pylot, the first wearable to track mental energy. The two engaged in a conversation about the importance of shifting our focus from grinding through endless tasks to maximising our mental energy.
In a world obsessed with productivity, the common message is clear: you must work harder, achieve more, and never stop. But Ben Wisbey challenges this relentless mindset. Drawing on his experience with high-performance athletes, he’s realised that the real key to success isn’t about doing more, but about doing less and making each action more intentional.
Ben explained that, over the years, he’s shifted his focus from productivity at all costs to mental energy management. The traditional grind of “getting things done” only leads to burnout and diminishing returns. Instead, the focus should be on how you use your mental energy—whether it’s for work, family, or personal time. Ben highlighted that some days, work takes priority, while other days it might be time for family or personal growth. The goal is to give your full attention to what matters most, without the distractions of endless to-do lists and notifications.
Ben also spoke about the concept of “being present”—something so many of us struggle with in our fast-paced world. When we’re constantly rushing to the next task or thinking ahead, we lose out on the experience of the moment. This often leads to unproductive work and strained relationships. But when we slow down, focus on the task at hand, and give our energy to what we’re doing right now, productivity increases naturally, and the work becomes more rewarding.
A major point Ben made was the growing distractions of modern technology. Phones, emails, and constant notifications pull us away from the people and tasks that matter most. He stressed the importance of setting boundaries, whether that’s during work or personal time, to avoid the distractions that break our focus and mental energy.
Listen to this episode now, and get ready to rethink how you approach your productivity. Ben’s insight will leave you questioning whether your constant hustle is really serving you—and how a new approach could make your time more meaningful and impactful.
Meditation of Mortals by Oliver Burkeman – (Ben’s recommendation)
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Ben Wisbey is a performance scientist with over two decades of experience in helping elite athletes achieve their peak potential. After years of refining his expertise in physical performance, Ben turned his focus to mental performance, realising the profound impact it has on all aspects of our lives. Driven by a passion for optimising human productivity, he founded Pylot, a company that creates wearable technology designed to track mental energy. With his unique blend of knowledge in both physical and mental performance, Ben is now on a mission to help people make smarter decisions about how they spend their mental energy, ultimately allowing them to live and work more intentionally.
Tarek is the co-founder of the functional training institute and FitWell Education lab. Tarek is an international educator and speaker who has presented numerous times at the biggest convention in Australia, Asia and the US. In addition, Tarek has presented courses to thousands of trainers throughout Australia, Asia, the Middle East and South America. Tarek is also a best-selling author of ‘Purpose Driven Movement.
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