Posted: 26 / 07 / 2023
What do a former counter-terrorism covert ops specialist, an ex-professional rugby player and a business leader have in common?
For Sedulo friend, client and Be The Standard group speaker, Mike Bates – as well as Johnny Grayshon and Joe Gaunt – that commonality is a drive to make the lives of men over 45 healthier, happier & more fulfilling.
The trio have pooled together their collection of specialist skills to create NXT45, a company to connect a community of men – in-person and digitally – to support them through mid-life and beyond.
“We believe everyone wins when men live healthier, happier & more fulfilling lives. NXT45 will change the conversation about men’s health and help to create better fathers, brothers, partners, husbands, friends & leaders.”
…said co-founder, Mike Bates. Bates is a human intelligence specialist, and a former covert counter-terrorism operations leader turned entrepreneur, who recently became the fastest Brit to complete ‘The World’s Toughest Row’; successfully navigating the 3,000-mile journey across the Atlantic solo, raising almost £175,000 for the Leeds Hospitals Charity in the process.
Co-founders alongside Bates on his latest endeavour are former Super League rugby player Johnny Grayshon and Joe Gaunt, the former Managing Director of WeWork and current Founder of wellness tech business zeno.
With 3/4 suicides being men and prevalence being highest at 40+, NXT45 are taking action with their inaugural event, The Hundred, this September to support self-development, focus, community and a drive to make the second half of life better than the first.
The Hundred brings together 100 like-minded men ready to change, ready to take part in new experiences and ready to learn new skills from some of the best speakers and experts in the world, masterclasses and experiences all set against the backdrop of the historic and beautiful North East Wales countryside.
Posting on LinkedIn, the NXT45 team said of The Hundred:
“It’s a small, magical event with never more than 100 men attending. It’s not a huge. It’s not cheap and cheerful. It’s small & magical and the ticket price reflects the magic.
“The Hundred enables our community to escape for the weekend, to meet amazing people and to leave recharged, empowered and educated to become the best version of you in the second half of life.
“For some we may be a lifeline, for others a new positive community. Whatever your reason for joining the NXT45 community we all share the same drive to support one another to become the very best versions of ourselves.”
With too many men struggling to navigate midlife with catastrophic consequences to family, relationships, communities and society, NXT45 have already set off on their mission to call time on the ‘man-up’ culture and change the conversation about men’s health through its launch of The Hundred with their website poignantly asking, “Unsure of the next move to make? At The Hundred by NXT45 we’ll show you how.”
For more information on NXT45, The Hundred and how to get 25% off tickets in their Summer sale, head to www.nxt45.com.