Beyond Baseline - Lessons from High Performers

What do elite entrepreneurs, world-class athletes, and longevity experts have in common? Find out in this week’s insights.

Author

Ross Anderson
March 21, 2025

Welcome to the Beyond Baseline Newsletter

Your weekly dose of high-performance insights, powerful mindset shifts, and real-world strategies to optimise your health, leadership, and resilience. This week, we’re reflecting on powerful corporate insights, breakthrough collaborations, and the true value of mentorship.

Let’s dive in.

NOW & NEXT 📅

Introducing Beyond Baseline

What if you had the tools, community, and mindset to go beyond what you thought was possible?

Back at Dell Technologies

Last week, Ross returned to Dell Technologies, where he once served as National Ambassador for Mental Health and Well-being. Delivering a session on The Art of Resilience and Navigating Change, the heartfelt feedback spoke volumes:

💬 "It was lovely to have you back on-site with us today. I always thoroughly enjoy your sessions and teachings. I'm definitely going to start practising regular gratitude and mental training. Huge success!" – Kirsty McLaughlin, Strategy & Planning Lead, Dell

💬 "Great to see and hear from you again, Ross. Thank you. What a fantastic session. All the best with Beyond Baseline and your new Better Man program." – Mark White, EMEA Technical Support Director, Dell

Better Man Community – Shoulder to Shoulder, Strength in Numbers

“The more I bring men together, the more it becomes clear - we thrive in groups.”

Our recent Steps & Sprigg event was another powerful example of how shared challenges and deep conversations unlock growth. The day started with a physical challenge (our own version of the Rocky Steps), followed by a community spotlight session at Sprigg, Scotland’s most successful salad bowl business, founded by Better Man member Tom.

💡 "Success is personal - define it on your own terms and have the conviction to pursue it."

💡 "You have to have a WHY. The only way to be successful in business and overcome the necessary challenges is to be fully aligned and connected with what you’re doing."

– Tom, Founder of Sprigg

Each event strengthens connections, shifts perspectives, and compounds the benefits of showing up. If you’re ready to step into this space, now’s the time.

New Partnership: Beyond Baseline x Matrix

Beyond Baseline has secured a major new contract with Matrix to facilitate a transformative team day for 350 Matrix team members at Reading FC this May.

  • A full-day immersive experience designed to reset, reconnect, and realign with Matrix’s core values: Kindness, Courageousness, Unstoppable, and Brilliant.

  • A science-backed two-hour workshop on delivering practical tools for resilience, performance, and effective team communication.

  • Connection made through Chris Grimes, who saw Ross’s SPDS keynote at St. Andrews Old Course and immediately recognised the impact of Beyond Baseline.

Stay tuned for more updates as this exciting collaboration unfolds.

IMPACT & INSIGHTS 💡

Growing the Community: Exceptional Better Man Retreat Attendees

We continue to attract high-calibre individuals who inspire and challenge us all. Recent Better Man Retreat sign-ups include:

A self-made 7-figure entrepreneur from Scotland who builds unique homes and bio-homes for new families. A true Scottish success story from Ayrshire.

A property developer from North Lanarkshire who transforms real estate into a thriving Airbnb empire. With over 15 fully booked properties achieved in just 18 months, Steven champions the power of mindset, visualisation, journaling, and surrounding yourself with the right people. He also values wellness and resilience.

The Value of Mentorship: Learning from Those Who’ve Walked the Path

Surrounding yourself with the right mentors is one of the most impactful decisions you can make. Ross’s commercial business manager at Beyond Baseline, Cath Strachan, recently wrote a thought-provoking piece on “Why Grey Hair Is Your Best Investment”:

💡 "I have found myself surrounded by the fast-moving world of tech startups, the dominant narrative is one of youthful disruption - fresh ideas, ambitious founders, and rapid growth.  Yet, behind many of the most successful startups lies an often-overlooked ingredient: the wisdom and experience of older advisors"

Over the last three years, Cath has been a game-changing mentor for Ross, offering a balance of knowledge, strategy, and tough love, and as she puts it, 'grey hairs are the best investment you can make.'

The lesson? Seek out those who have walked the path before you. Find your Mr. Miyagi’s (or Mrs. Miyagi’s) and surround yourself with mentors who challenge and elevate you.

💬 "The greatest good you can do for another is not just to share your riches but to reveal to him his own." – Benjamin Disraeli

FLOURISH & FUNDAMENTALS

The Sleep Science Breakdown: Why One Extra Hour Matters

I’ve spent years studying the impact of sleep on human performance, and the research is undeniable - most of us are running on empty.

  • Sleep patterns have changed more in the last 100 years than in the previous several centuries.

  • When sleep drops below 7 hours, that’s when we start to see the negative effects kicking in - cognitively, physically, and immunologically.

  • The average UK adult gets just 6.2 hours per night, contributing to fatigue, weakened immunity, and poorer cognitive function.

  • Our light exposure has evolved from fire to screens, disrupting circadian rhythms in ways our biology was never designed for.

When I spoke at O2 and Virgin Media, I broke down exactly how sleep deprivation chips away at your performance, resilience, and long-term health. The simplest fix? Aim for just one extra hour of sleep per night. Small changes create massive results.

SPOTLIGHT: THE BETTER MAN RETREAT

Dr. Alka Patel – The Longevity & Lifestyle Doctor

Dr. Alka Patel is a leading longevity and lifestyle doctor helping high performers extend their prime years through science-backed strategies.

  • Featured expert on Good Morning Britain, TalkTV, Forbes, and Women’s Health.

  • TEDx speaker with over half a million views on her talk "Health is a Verb, Not a Noun."

  • Dedicated to helping people live to 100+ while maintaining energy, vitality, and peak performance.

Dr. Alka Patel

Dr. Patel joins our Better Man Retreat speaker lineup, bringing a practical, evidence-based approach to long-term health and well-being.

COMMUNITY OPPORTUNITIES 🤝

The heartbeat of Beyond Baseline is its community. With every Better Man meet-up, more men are stepping into a space designed for growth, challenge, and deep connection.

Hear some feedback from our most recent Steps & Sprigg Better Man event:

Adam Ashe (Ex-pro athlete, Co-founder of PURE Sport, Founder of NOTOX, former Glasgow Warriors and Scotland international rugby player):
"Well done, Ross. It's a great space to work and grow with like-minded men. All of the events have been highly beneficial and highly insightful. Very happy to be part of this community."

Ross Broom (Performance coach, specialising in athletes who lift, power lift, and do all things Highland Games):

"For me, recently, environment is everything. Having the opportunity to surround yourself with people who want nothing but the best for each other is something not many get the opportunity to immerse themselves in. Thank you greatly for the opportunity, Ross."

CONNECT WITH US

TAKE ACTION

📘 Learn More About the Better Man Retreat
 🤝 Join the Better Man Community
 🔥 Follow Beyond Baseline on Instagram

This is just the beginning. Stay tuned for more updates, insights, and ways to push beyond your baseline every week.

Until next time,
Ross Anderson
Beyond Baseline Founder