Interview, Fireside Chat, Conference Presentation
Suicidal Drug Addict To Elite Military Commando with Ben Williams | E68
- Ben Williams experienced a childhood marked by domestic violence, a parents' divorce when he was six, and frequent relocations across six to seven schools, leading to feelings of alienation and bullying.
- He developed a coping mechanism through heavy metal music and a growing resentment toward male figures due to the lack of a father figure and a mother's subsequent difficult relationships.
- To emulate an "alpha male" persona he saw in films, he became a bouncer at 18, utilizing steroids to build a larger physique and seeking validation through violence and a macho lifestyle.
- A pivotal incident occurred when a club brawl resulted in a patron's accidental death (a broken neck from being tackled), leading to Williams losing his job and spiraling into severe cocaine and steroid addiction.
- By age 28, Williams hit "rock bottom," engaging in daily drug use, working as a cleaner, and contemplating suicide by driving his car off a bridge or into an object.
- A YouTube advertisement for the Royal Marines appeared during his suicidal ideation, acting as a catalyst that reminded him of a childhood dream and provided a "north star" for his life.
- He applied to the Royal Marines, passed a grueling "Potential Raw Marines" course despite suffering from food poisoning, and felt a profound sense of purpose upon receiving his acceptance.
- His military career spanned approximately 10 years, culminating in a combat engagement in Afghanistan in 2011 where his patrol was struck by a directional fragmentation IED.
- The IED explosion injured Williams and several comrades; his commander, Vicey, lost a leg, and another marine, Darlo, was permanently disabled by shrapnel to the temple.
- Williams was medically discharged due to permanent hearing loss in his left ear, which he had previously attempted to mask during fitness tests.
- Post-discharge, he experienced PTSD and a relapse into alcohol abuse, leading to a court-martial and a near-imprisonment for an incident where he intervened in a knife threat.
- He rebuilt his life by working as a commando instructor and later coaching elite performers, including Harry Kane, Gareth Southgate, and the England football team prior to the 2018 World Cup.
- Williams developed the "Commando Mindset," defined by values including courage, determination, excellence, self-discipline, integrity, cheerfulness, and humility.
- He criticizes the modern cultural narrative of "participation trophies," arguing that rewarding effort over accomplishment removes a necessary sense of purpose and orientation, contributing to mental health crises.
- Williams utilizes the "ARA" framework (Accept, Remove, Adapt) to process adversity, emphasizing the need to accept the situation, remove emotional interference, and adapt strategically.
- He founded a tech company called Looping during the pandemic to address workplace mental health by allowing employees to track and share daily well-being metrics to prevent burnout.
- Despite the pandemic causing his previous coaching business to collapse, he leveraged his mindset to launch Looping, which integrates with platforms like Slack to monitor team morale.
- Williams currently serves on the board of Huel, a partnership formed after his initial pitch as a podcast sponsor, highlighting his ongoing entrepreneurial journey.
- He maintains running as a primary tool for mental clarity and "escape," viewing the physical struggle of running as a method to practice "0.1% better every day" rather than seeking perfection.
- Stephen Bartlett (the interviewer) noted that Williams' story inspired him to persevere through his own financial crisis, raising £500,000 for his business just before missing payroll.