News from the Room
When Progress Doesn’t Feel Like Progress
Some days, it feels like you’re moving backward. Like every effort is met with resistance, every door stays shut, and every step forward somehow lands you further from where you want to be. But progress isn’t always obvious. It doesn’t always feel like an upward climb.
Sometimes, progress looks like failure. Like a dip in the road, a detour you didn’t plan for, or a hard lesson you wish you didn’t have to learn. But if the goal is the peak, then every rejection, every disappointment, and every ‘no’ is still part of the journey. The key is to keep moving.
This past month, I’ve had more no’s than yeses. More closed doors than open ones. And sure, that stings. But I believe in the vision. I know why I’m doing this. And as long as I keep showing up, every setback becomes part of the ascent.
If you’re feeling stuck, take a step back. Look at how far you've come instead of just how far there is to go. Progress isn’t always in the wins—it’s in the persistence, the lessons, and the quiet moments where you decide to keep going.
The 411
This Week at Room Eleven
Outreach is still happening in a big way, though I’ve had more no’s this week than before. But I’m still powering through.
At the same time, I’ve shifted focus to something I’ve been meaning to do for a while: expanding my Grief, Growth, and Resilience talk.
As many of you know, over the years, I’ve been invited to speak at local, national, and more recently international events, covering everything from taking risks and pushing limits to, sharing my experience with grief and loss. My journey has taken me from endurance challenges—walking for three months solo across Japan, scooting the length of Ireland—to the deepest emotional trials, like losing our daughter Billie.
Through it all, I’ve learned one thing: we don’t get to choose what happens to us, but we do get to choose how we respond.
I’ve decided that now is the time to fully commit to this endeavour through Room Eleven. I’m taken everything I’ve learned—from past talks, personal loss, and ridiculous endurance challenges and expanding it into one powerful presentation on Grief, Growth & Resilience.
To mark this new chapter, I’m offering the first 5 bookings in April for free. No catch, no fine print—just a chance to share this message, connect with more people, and give back.
This isn’t just about sharing my story—it’s about refining the talk to make it as impactful as possible and ensuring it truly supports the people who need it most. The feedback from these talks will help shape how I deliver this message moving forward.
This isn’t a one-off. Every month, I’ll be giving away talks like this. Room Eleven exists to support the community, raise awareness of pregnancy loss and create healthy discussions about grief and loss.
If you or your organisation would like to book one of these free talks, reply to this email or book directly here.
Weekly Musings
Quote I’m Pondering: "We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give."
– Winston Churchill
This resonates with me this week because, since committing my time fully to Room Eleven, my focus has been almost entirely on acquiring sponsors and partnerships to fund the Guinness World Record campaign to raise $100K for the Royal Women’s Hospital in Melbourne.
To be honest, it’s a necessary task, but asking for help has never been something I’ve been comfortable with. That’s why I’ve shifted my focus a bit this week—working on my Grief, Growth, and Resilience talk and offering it for free to five groups, as I mentioned earlier. For those that book outside of the first five, the price will be just enough to keep the lights on and help fund more Still Billie Boxes for families who need them.
This quote is a great reminder that while funding is important, the real impact comes from giving.
App I’m Loving: Hoopla
I have fond memories of my mum taking my sister and me to the local library when we were young. Getting our very own library cards was a big deal—it was the first card I was responsible for looking after. I felt so adult, finally being given the freedom to choose anything in the library to take home. Granted, I always borrowed way more than I could actually read. They also had a great collection of skateboarding compilation videos that I watched over and over until I had to return them.
Libraries are still around, but they don’t hold the same attraction for kids today as they used to. That’s where Hoopla bridges the gap.
Hoopla is a digital media service that lets you borrow movies, TV shows, music, eBooks, audiobooks, and comics—all for free—with just a library card. I signed up for a library card at my local library, and now I have access to an entire digital library through the app.
I’ve been sharing this with my son, teaching him about borrowing and, more importantly, introducing him to comic books. Comic-Con, here we come!
If you haven’t checked out Hoopla yet, it’s worth a look—especially if you love the idea of a library at your fingertips.
Check it out here: hoopladigital.com.au
What I'm Reading: Daredevil – Born Again by Frank Miller
With the new Daredevil series just released—and Hoopla now in my life—I finally decided to dive into Daredevil: Born Again, the classic 1986 comic run by Frank Miller.
I’ve always been keen to get into Daredevil comics, but for one reason or another, I never got around to it. I’m still early in the story, but so far, I’m loving getting back into comics again. There’s something about the depth and grit of Born Again that makes it clear why it’s one of the most celebrated Daredevil stories ever.
If you’ve read it before, let me know what you think—or if you have any other must-read Daredevil runs to recommend!
What I’m Watching – Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man
I really enjoyed this animated show. Originally created as a sort of prequel to Spider-Man: Homecoming in the MCU, the creators ultimately decided to steer away from the films and craft their own story—something I’m incredibly grateful for.
The show follows a teenage Peter Parker navigating life as both a high school student and a newly minted superhero, but with some fresh twists. One of the biggest changes is Norman Osborn taking on a mentor role for Peter, which adds a whole new dynamic to their relationship.
The animation style is fantastic, and the depth they’ve given to the characters really makes it stand out. It doesn’t feel like it’s just trying to hit predetermined milestones for future projects—it’s telling a story on its own terms.
The voice acting was also spot on. Colman Domingo as Norman Osborn was a clever casting choice—he brings a perfect balance of authority and intrigue to the role. I also thought Lenny and Nico fit really well into the story, adding depth to Peter’s world beyond just his superhero life.
Available now on Disney+.
Progress doesn’t always feel like progress. Some weeks, it feels like pushing against a locked door. Others, like you’re sliding backward. But every step—every rejection, every hard lesson—is still part of the climb. The key is to keep moving, even when the path isn’t clear.
That’s been my focus lately. Showing up. Putting in the work. Saying yes to what I can control, even when the big wins feel just out of reach. It’s why I’m offering 5 free talks in April—because impact comes from action, not just intention.
Maybe that’s why I’ve been drawn to Daredevil: Born Again this week. It’s a story about resilience, about getting knocked down and standing back up—again and again. And, funnily enough, the same themes run through Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man too. Whether it’s Peter Parker juggling responsibility or Matt Murdock fighting his way back from rock bottom, there’s something powerful about the idea that setbacks don’t define us—what we do next does.
And yes, this week has been Marvel-heavy. Maybe that’s just where my head’s at—superheroes, persistence, and finding a way forward even when the road isn’t easy.
So if you’re in a season where progress feels slow, take a breath. Trust the work you’re putting in. Keep going. The altitude is still rising.
And if a talk on grief, growth, and resilience could help your team, school, or community, let’s make it happen.
See you next week!
Rob
Giving Back
Donate a Still Billie Box
Our care packages for families who’ve lost their baby, named after our baby daughter Billie. Offering comfort during what should be a joyful season. Your donation can make a real difference in allowing us to provide free Still Billie Boxes to hospitals across Australia.
Room Eleven is a social enterprise business and does not qualify for DGR status.