How Leverage, Not Hustle, Unlocks True Freedom
In 2019, I had what many would call a “good life.”
I was coaching 25–30 clients one-on-one.
Money was good.
Momentum was there.
But I was exhausted.
One afternoon, after a full day of calls, I laced up my shoes for a workout and realised…
I had nothing left.
Nothing left for myself.
Nothing left for Amy.
Nothing left for the life I actually wanted to live.
And the thought hit me:
If I stop working, the money stops too.
It wasn’t just burnout.
It was the realisation that I had built a system that trapped me.
I didn’t want to spend my life exhausted.
I didn’t want to keep trading my energy for security.
I needed a better way.
What Men’s Groups Taught Me About Life
After the first year of running men’s groups, I sat in rooms filled with men from every walk of life:
Doctors. Bricklayers. Stay-at-home dads. Students. Athletes.
Different paths, different careers — but underneath?
The same struggle.
We were all caught in a relentless grind.
Carrying responsibility.
Chasing success.
And quietly feeling trapped by it.
They were good at what they had optimised for…
But as life changed, they couldn’t adapt.
They lacked leverage.
And without leverage, growth turns into survival.
Dreams get replaced with duties.
Freedom gets traded for fatigue.
Why Leverage Changes Everything
Leverage isn’t just for billionaires.
It’s available to anyone willing to grow into it.
Leverage means doing more with less.
It’s the key to living, not just surviving.
It can come from:
Money
Networks
Technology
Systems
Health
The more value you bring to the world the more your time multiplies.
And the uncomfortable truth?
Leverage lives outside your comfort zone.
You have to grow to get it.
You have to endure discomfort to earn it.
Most people avoid that and stay stuck.
Traditional vs Modern Leverage
At first, I tried traditional leverage.
Hiring staff. Building partnerships. Scaling the old-school way.
It worked but it didn’t feel right.
I realised:
I didn’t want to manage people.
I didn’t want overheads that tied me down.
I didn’t want more moving parts I wanted more freedom.
So I shifted into modern leverage:
Personal brand: build trust, not just traffic.
Technology: automate and amplify reach.
Systems: create structure that runs without my daily effort.
When I leaned into modern leverage, everything changed.
The First Real Payoff
In 2023, my wife Amy had an opportunity in the U.S.
Because I had built leverage into my life
I could pack up, move across the world, support her dreams, and keep my business running.
I still had income.
I still had purpose.
I still had freedom.
And I remember thinking:
This is why I chose this path.
It wasn’t about making millions overnight.
It was about being able to say “yes” to life’s important moments without asking for permission.
The Trade-Off Most People Won’t Talk About
But here’s what I’ll tell you straight:
Building a life of leverage isn’t easy.
When you are the brand, there’s nowhere to hide.
You carry the weight.
You face the pressure.
You stand in the spotlight even on days you’d rather disappear.
Some days, I want to vanish into the forest.
Throw my phone into a river.
Live quietly, away from it all.
But then I remember:
It’s bigger than me.
I chose to be the brand because I chose impact.
And every time I receive a message from someone who says my story helped them
Every time I have a conversation with someone who needed what I shared —
I remember why I keep going.
Because somewhere out there, there’s a version of me
A man trying to figure it out.
A man wondering if it’s worth it.
A man who needs to hear:
It is.
You are.
And you’re just getting started.
If you want to see where you are now, take the Free Life Performance Scorecard
Lachlan’s Leverage Ladder 🔥
If you’re serious about living differently, here’s the roadmap:
Invest in yourself.
Increase your value and hourly rate.
Create your ideal day — and protect it.
Grow your network.
Leverage technology and systems.
Scale smart, not messy.
Keep your money working for you.
Freedom isn’t found.
It’s built.
And the first brick you lay is called leverage.
Personal Progress 18th July - 25th July 🤯
What Happened ✅:
Running: Completed 38.2km. (Ran 45 minutes every hour for 5 hours)
Workshop: Prepared for my upcoming workshop in Australia
Marriage: Date night to "Bad Idea" - French/Asian inspired food
What's Coming Up 📅:
Podcast: Rebrand! I am rebranding. I'll share more in each episode until it goes live
Strong Men of Value Academy: This is changing. More info to come
Travel: I am flying back to Australia this weekend - I CAN'T WAIT