News from the Room
Emotional Resilience: As Important as Physical Endurance
Endurance is often thought of in physical terms—pushing your body to its limits. But, as I’ve learned, emotional resilience is just as crucial. It’s the mental strength that keeps you going when physical challenges seem insurmountable. This has been a key lesson in both my personal endurance challenges and the journey of growing Room Eleven.
During my walk across Japan in 2014, I had to cover 80 km in two days to catch a ferry to Honshu. I had never walked that far before, let alone with a 20+ kg pack on my back. The journey was gruelling, and despite my effort, I missed the ferry and ended up stuck in Tomakomai for two days. It was demoralising, especially since I was behind schedule.
But those two days became a turning point. Being stuck in Tomakomai gave me the chance to reset, take stock, and refocus on my "why." I was there to challenge myself, grow, and enjoy the experience. The latter was something I had been forgetting in the rush to meet my goals. That unexpected pause reminded me that sometimes the best way to push forward is to take a step back, reset, and reconnect with why you started in the first place.
This lesson is just as relevant now as I grow Room Eleven. There are plenty of challenges and setbacks along the way—whether it’s trying to expand my audience, navigate new partnerships, or balance everything in my life. Emotional resilience has been key to pushing through those tough moments. It’s not just about having the physical endurance to keep going, but having the mental strength to face the hard times, reset when needed, and stay aligned with the bigger mission.
In the end, emotional resilience and physical endurance aren’t separate things—they’re deeply connected. Whether I’m training for an endurance event, running Room Eleven, or navigating personal hurdles, both the body and the mind must be nurtured. When you have the strength to push through the hard moments emotionally, the physical challenges become that much easier to overcome. This balance is what ultimately allows you to move forward and make progress—no matter what the journey looks like.
The 411
This Week at Room Eleven
Welcome to the Thunderdome! - Venue Announced
On Tuesday, I had a fantastic meeting with the team at Calder Park Raceway to discuss the upcoming Guinness World Record scooter event, which will raise funds for the Pregnancy After Loss Clinic. I'm excited to say it went really well! I had the chance to be driven around the Thunderdome, which gave me a great feel for the track and road. The space is perfect for the event, and here’s the best part—they’re generously providing the venue, food trucks, and catering services for free!
What started as a one-day event is now growing into a two-day, family-friendly extravaganza, complete with food trucks, live music, performances, and vendor spaces for brands and community groups. All of this will help us hit our $100K fundraising target. I still have a lot of logistics and approvals to sort out with the team, but I’m envisioning an incredible weekend to bring everyone together and raise awareness for this important cause.
Grief, Growth & Resilience Workshop Series:
This week, we also launched our Grief, Growth, and Resilience: A Parent Workshop Series for schools. The series will offer parents the opportunity to attend three workshops each term (in-person or virtually). These sessions are designed to help parents navigate life’s challenges—grief, stress, and other major changes—so they can show up for their families in a healthier, more resilient way.
Grief (Start of Term): Understanding loss and how it impacts families
Growth (Mid-Term): Finding strength in challenges
Resilience (End of Term): Practical strategies for long-term well-being
I’ve already started reaching out to schools I’ve worked with in the past, and I’m excited to see how this series can support parents in building resilience and strength.
Fundraising Page Update:
I’ve had a look at the fundraising page that the hospital is setting up for the Pregnancy After Loss Clinic, and I’m happy to say it’s looking great. It should be live in the next few days, so keep an eye out for updates on how you can get involved and support this cause.
Weekly Musings
Quote I’m Pondering: "Go slow, to go further."
This thought came to me during my training this week, especially while I was out on a run. Instead of rushing to finish, I decided to focus on going slower and keeping my heart rate steady. The goal was to build endurance for the long term, knowing that this approach will pay off in the end. But I quickly realised that running slower is actually harder at first. It requires more focus to get the cadence right, to maintain a steady pace, and to be patient with myself.
It made me think about how this mirrors the process of growing a business or learning a new skill. You can’t just push ahead at full speed and expect quality results to come quickly. If you want to achieve something truly valuable, it requires time, consistency, and a clear focus on the fundamentals. It’s not about rushing to the finish line—it’s about steady progress, even when it feels like it’s taking longer than you’d like.
This is a lesson I’m continuing to remind myself of as this journey unfolds. Sometimes the best way forward is to slow down, give yourself time to learn, and trust that the results will come when they’re meant to.
What I’m listening to: "Out of Your Mind" by Alan Watts
Check out the Audible version here!
"Out of Your Mind" is a collection of Alan Watts' lectures, where he delves into topics of mindfulness, the nature of reality, and the importance of letting go of rigid thinking. Watts explores the idea that life is not something to be controlled or understood intellectually but something to be experienced and flowed with. The lectures are a great reminder to stop taking life too seriously and to embrace the present moment with openness and curiosity.
I’ve listened to this countless times now. I first came across it while training for my first endurance challenge. It’s one of those pieces that I keep coming back to, especially when I need a reminder to lighten up, stop overthinking, and just be in the moment. Whether you're training for something big or navigating life’s ups and downs, it’s a valuable listen for anyone looking to shift their perspective.
What I’m Watching – The Internship
Two old-school salesmen (Vince Vaughn and Owen Wilson) find themselves out of work and somehow land internships at Google. The problem? They have zero tech skills and are up against a bunch of brilliant college students. Classic fish-out-of-water comedy—underdog moments, mismatched team dynamics, and plenty of Vaughn-Wilson banter.
I’ve always liked this movie, but watching it now hits differently. Leaving my full-time job to grow Room Eleven has put me in the same boat—constantly tackling things way outside my wheelhouse, figuring it out as I go. Like them, I’m leaning on others, learning on the fly, and hoping persistence gets me through.
It’s one of the last great buddy comedies from Vaughn and Wilson. Nothing groundbreaking, but it knows exactly what it is. A solid watch when you need to switch off—or a reminder that sometimes, being out of your depth is exactly where you need to be.
This week has been a reminder of how emotional resilience and physical endurance go hand in hand. Reflecting on my walk across Japan, the two-day setback in Tomakomai turned out to be a valuable reset. It reminded me that growth often comes from setbacks, and sometimes slowing down is necessary to keep moving forward.
This lesson has been crucial in growing Room Eleven. Whether it's the Guinness World Record event or launching the Grief, Growth & Resilience workshops, facing challenges head-on with mental strength has been key to moving forward.
The meeting with Calder Park Raceway was a highlight, and I'm excited about the two-day event that will raise funds for the Pregnancy After Loss Clinic. Also, re-listening to Alan Watts' Out of Your Mind has been a timely reminder to stay present and not take things too seriously.
Overall, this week reaffirmed that resilience—both mental and physical—is what allows us to keep pushing, even when the path is tough. The journey continues.
Question to ponder: When setbacks occur, do you push forward immediately, or do you take a moment to pause and reflect?
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.