Should You Stop Drinking Alcohol? Why Does Society Glorify "Busy" Over Fulfilment? | Ivor Stratford, EP37
Why Does Society Glorify Being Busy Over Being Fulfilled?
There's something deeply unsettling about how we've turned exhaustion into a badge of honour. We brag about our packed schedules, wear our stress like a medal, and equate being busy with being important. But what if this entire narrative is keeping us from the very thing we're actually chasing – genuine fulfilment?
Ivor Stratford, Co-Founder and Director of Morpheus Group, discovered this truth through an unexpected journey. Over 1,000 days alcohol-free, marathon runner, and scratch golfer, Ivor has built a thriving talent acquisition company whilst questioning everything we're told about work-life balance. His story isn't just about success – it's about redefining what success actually means.
The Hidden Cost of Quick Fixes
We live in a culture obsessed with instant results. The next productivity hack, the latest morning routine, the revolutionary business strategy that'll change everything overnight. But Ivor's experience reveals something profound: the real transformation happens when we stop chasing the next shiny object and start trusting our own process.
When Ivor quit alcohol, he didn't just remove a substance from his life – he reclaimed 252 hours annually. That's equivalent to six full working weeks. But more importantly, he gained something money can't buy: mental clarity and consistent energy levels. Research supports this, showing that even moderate drinking impairs cognitive function and disrupts sleep patterns, directly affecting productivity and mood stability.
The lesson isn't about alcohol specifically. It's about recognising the small, consistent choices that compound over time. Whilst everyone else is looking for the next big breakthrough, sustainable success comes from daily decisions that align with your values.
The Myth of Work-Life Balance
Here's where Ivor's approach gets controversial. He suggests that traditional work-life balance might be incompatible with ambitious goals. Instead of balance, he advocates for intentional imbalance – periods of intense focus followed by genuine recovery.
This isn't about glorifying overwork. It's about being honest about what building something meaningful actually requires. When you're launching a company, training for a marathon, or mastering a new skill, you can't approach it with a balanced mindset. You need seasons of intensity, but they must be purposeful and temporary.
The key difference? Alignment with personal values. When your work feels like an extension of who you are rather than something you have to do, the energy equation changes entirely. You're not burning out because you're building something that matters to you.
Process Over Outcomes
Perhaps the most powerful insight from Ivor's journey is his shift from chasing end goals to finding fulfilment in the process. Whether it's running ultra-marathons, building a company culture, or maintaining sobriety, the magic happens in the daily practice, not the finish line.
Behavioural science supports this approach. Habits typically take 2-3 months to form and require scaffolding small wins to avoid relapse. When you focus on the process rather than the outcome, you build sustainable momentum that doesn't depend on external validation or perfect conditions.
This doesn't mean abandoning ambition. It means redefining what ambition looks like. Instead of desperately chasing the next milestone, you become someone who consistently shows up for the things that matter. The results become a byproduct of who you've become, not the source of your identity.
Trust Your Own Path
In a world of endless advice and supposed best practices, Ivor's story reminds us of something crucial: you have to trust your own process. What works for others might not work for you, and that's perfectly fine. The goal isn't to follow someone else's blueprint – it's to build your own.
This requires courage. It means saying no to opportunities that don't align with your values, even when they look good on paper. It means building a company culture that prioritises clear communication and genuine teamwork over speed at all costs. It means choosing long-term sustainability over short-term gains.
The irony is that when you stop trying to be everything to everyone, you become more effective at the things that truly matter. You stop feeling "lost and searching" and start feeling content with your progress, even when the destination is still unclear.
The Compound Effect of Consistency
Small, cumulative wins are more powerful than expecting quick transformations. This applies to everything from building habits to growing a business. The person who runs consistently for months will outperform the person who has intense workout periods followed by complete breaks.
Ivor's approach to building Morpheus Group reflects this philosophy. Rather than chasing rapid expansion or flashy metrics, he's focused on creating sustainable systems that can scale over time. This means building a team culture that values precision over speed, and client relationships that go beyond transactional interactions.
Taking Action
Stop glorifying busy. Start celebrating intentional. The next time you catch yourself bragging about how packed your schedule is, ask yourself: am I busy or am I building something meaningful?
Choose one area of your life where you can apply the process-over-outcomes mindset. Maybe it's your fitness routine, your business development, or your personal relationships. What small, consistent action can you take today that aligns with your values?
Remember, the goal isn't to revolutionise your entire life overnight. It's to trust your own process, stay consistent with the things that matter, and find fulfilment in the journey itself. Because ultimately, that's where the real transformation happens.
Sources:
● Morpheus Group: https://www.morpheus-group.com
● Ivor Stratford LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ivor-stratford
● Lost and Searching Podcast: https://sevenjacobs.com/lost-and-searching
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