A light-hearted tale of rejuventation

A man asked his wife what she'd like for her birthday. "I'd love to be eight again", she replied.

On the morning of her birthday, her loving husband arose early and made her a bowl of Coco Pops and jammy toasties! He then took her to a theme park and put her on the scariest rides - The Death Slide, The Wall of Fear, The Screaming Monster Roller Coaster.

Five hours later she staggered from the theme park with her head reeling and stomach upside down.

"Now let's have some food" said her husband, feeling that the day deserved to be rounded off in real style. The McDonalds Happy Meal included with extra fries, a sickly chocolate milkshake and a cheap plastic toy.

Then it was off to the movies to see the latest kiddies three hour epic cartoon, a hot dog, popcorn, all the Coke she could drink and lots and lots of her favourite ice-cream with M&Ms topping!

What a fabulous adventure! Finally, she wobbled home with her husband and collapsed onto the bed exhausted. He leaned over his precious wife with a big smile and lovingly asked "Well dear, what was it like being eight again?" Her eyes slowly opened and her expression changed to one of total frustration. "I meant dress size 8, you idiot!"

We are not programmed to die

I was watching Envoyé Spécial on French telly the other night which carried an interesting documentary on how to cheat death.

In the vanguard of the Transhumanist movement is Aubrey De Grey who likes to say things like "immortality is possible" and "you can cure yourself from death".

Whilst postponing death indefinitely seems more science fiction than proven science today, it is absolutely true that we are on the verge of a historic turning point in human affairs. For the first time ever, a species is able to direct its own evolution. Human nature is about to change and we will soon be enhancing human beings in much the same way as we upgrade the technology we use.

Scientists have now developed and extraordinary toolkit for understanding and manipulating genes and it will only be a matter of time before this technology is used to destroy dreadful diseases like Huntingtons. Not far behind will the the temptation to make improvements to our unborn children and to our own longevity.

Already in the US, people are buying printouts of their own genetic code - and altering their lives accordingly. One 37 year old woman, who's mother had died of breast cancer, decided, on the basis of her genetic printout to sacrifice her own breasts. With a probability of getting breast cancer herself assessed as 85% certain, she decided not to take the risk.

With a digital map of our own biology in our hand, who's to say what health and lifestyle choices we will make? But one thing is for certain, the time when we decide to live to be 120 or 150 is getting closer.

Medicine makes you old!

I'm one of those people who avoid taking medicine if at all possible. My wife, meanwhile, is a pharmacist and encourages me to take pills and potions on all possible occasions. So you can imagine that this subject is a source of stress at home!

What about others? Take the French for example. A typical patient will feel positively cheated if he/she leaves a doctors surgery without 5 different prescription medicines. No wonder the French store medicines in cabinets in the kitchen rather than first aid boxes in the bathroom!
Now, I've always thought that people's views about medicine were limited to perceptions of efficacity and safety. But it turns out I was wrong. People link taking medicine with their age!

Advertising agency DDB recently surveyed consumers across 11 countries. They found, for example, that 77% of the Chinese feel that taking a medicine everyday makes you feel old. 70% of inhabitants of Singapore feel the same way. What they seem to be saying is that, if you have to take medicine, you must be near to death's door.

Other cultures take a different view. In the US, for example, only 39% link medicine to feeling old. On the contrary, 61% feel that taking a medicine everyday makes you feel healthy.

It would take an enormous effort to get beyond these statistics and read real meaning into them. Are the differences due to the respective health systems? The availability of different drugs and natural remedies? The breadth of preventative medicines? The cost structure?

Nevertheless, one thing is sure. Taking medicine is not neutral. Beyond the physiological effects, pill popping can have psychological impacts too. For some, taking drugs is a sign of age and decay. If you have one of these profiles, be careful about what you are taking and why. You may be inadvertently accelerating your descent into Old Brain thinking.

To Botox or not to Botox

"[I have a] moving layer of custard under the skin. Every morning I wake up not knowing how I am going to look". The words of a British woman who'd had an injectable water-based filler treatment under her skin to help her look younger.

Women today - and increasingly men - are under great pressure to retain their young looks. Celebrities are all at it - Kylie Minogue, Nicole Kidman and Jennifer Aniston have all tried Botox, for example. Here's two photos of Kylie taken 20 year apart!

And, meanwhile, in a recession, who doesn't want to create an 'edge' that might just make a difference between a job and a park bench?

But what is the cost of going down this non-surgical cosmetic path? In money terms, around £2000 per year if you count both skin fillers and two sessions of Botox injections. And this for the next 20 years or more. But if it goes wrong, the cost can be greater - as the quote heading this post implies. So why do it?

Talking to people who use Botox, it isn't just about rolling back the years. It's about staying relevant and having people take you seriously. And yes, it's about keeping up with the Hollywood set.

But money and accidents apart, there are two very serious things to consider before Botox. Firstly, will you really achieve what you set out to achieve? Just as facelifts were obvious - and, let's face it, ugly - so the 'new face' physionomy of the Botox injector also gives a 'fake' look. For example, a lighting expert in the theatre recently complained "there's no way to light them so that they don't look hideous".

Secondly, what is the point looking beautifully young if the minute you open your mouth you betray yourself as a frumpy, grumpy old timer? You see, the truth is, that no matter how young we look, if we have an 'Old Brain' in our heads, we will live saggy, uninspiring and limited lives.

So, if Botox is your thing, I say, why not? The arguments for and against are well captured in this recent article: http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2009/apr/07/kira-cochrane-celebrities-ageing . If you still feel confident to go through with it, take the plunge. But, whether you Botox or not, think also about rejuventating your mind. Give your thoughts a 'facelift' and see where they take you.

Do happiness workshops make you happy?

I was invited along to a birthday party of an old university friend last week. As always, it was good to get out, catch up with old acquaintances and meet new people.

However, this was also a party with a difference, since my friend had arranged to kick things off with a happiness workshop. These are all the rage here in France ('atelier de rire') and increasingly used by businesses as a pick-me-up for staff.

The session involved us standing in a circle and being incited to do silly things, make animal noises, introduce ourselves in funny ways etc. The routines were inventive but most finished by asking participants to let rip with a real belly laugh.

If I'm fair, the session worked as best it could. The animator was excellent (a trained actor and business coach) and everyone participated fully and freely - in what some might have found embarrassing circumstances.

However, the problem with laughter workshops lays with their conception. Laughter is a spontaneous outflow of emotion. It's not something you can liberate by asking or inciting people to be happy. Forcing yourself to laugh artificially turns out to be rather depressing. For when you laugh in a genuine way, there's an upwelling of positive feelings which accompany the action. Laughing for the sake of it lacks that warm emotion and, in its absence, feels hollow and rather sad.

I wouldn't say the session flopped, since it broke the ice and strangers felt they knew each other by the end of the hour's workout; the party got off to a great start as a consequence. However, as in most things in life, the real deal is when people laugh in an authentic, genuine way.

If you have a Young Brain and associate with other Young Brains, chances are you do not need the rather artificial prompt of a laughter coach. Your life will be already filled with fun and the laughter tears will flow regularly and copiously.

On another subject, I've recently come across a couple of good blogs for older 'Young Brains'. Have a look at http://getreadyforretirement.co.uk and http://www.sixtyplussurfers.com

Hopes and Fears. What do people really think about ageing?

Ever since we wrote our book about fighting the ageing process, we've had lots of people come up expressing their hopes and fears about getting old. It's certainly a topic which arouses high emotions!

Common debates are: is it better to grow old gracefully? Should we really regret our youth? Is it possible that we don't get wiser as we get older? Can we really remain youthful into our 60s and 70s?

The Guardian newspaper carried a piece about ageing this week. http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/oct/12/charlie-brooker?commentpage=5

As is often the case, the interest came from the comments, rather than the article itself. Here are a few of the opinions of readers about ageing:

Having just suffered another birthday I realise that the older I get the more I try and act as some sort of self-appointed lighthouse-keeper, trying to dissuade those lucky to be younger than me to steer clear from the rocks of addled age I imagine I ran aground upon years ago.

I hate looking back on all the chances I've wasted in my life. Why couldn't I see that I wasn't fat, that I wasn't ugly, that I really could have done anything I wanted to do if I'd only worked a bit harder and been prouder of myself?

Dunno what all the fuss is about. I'm 71 and think that aging is great fun. Usually up before 3am whence I take my dog for a 4 mile walk. Dance 4/5 times a week, play bridge 3 times a week, hike/backup/ camp every weekend, writing 2 books (already written 50). July backpacked 6 days in Sierra Nevada, Aug camped out on ferry Alaska. This weekend backpacking Catalina Island 3 days. end of month NZ for 5 weeks.

I used to shave my ears and cut my nose hair, but recently I've let it all grow into a comb over to cover my balding head.

38? 48? 58? If you feel OK, why worry? If you're obsessing about your age, you obviously aren't having enough fun.

I would say the point at which you stop being interested in anything new that is happening and constantly harp on about the good old years is the point at which you become old. For some this happens when they are young 21,22,23,24 others are able to keep a youthful vitality. My point of view is to do everything you can until the point that you physically can't. Physically many people are able to do a lot into their 60s and 70s.

Reading through the hundreds of comments, it was easy to divide the readers into two camps. Those with a positive outlook on ageing who were ready to face the battle by staying youthful and those ready to give up and get depressed about the prospect.

If you are one of those in the positive camp, read our book ('You Can Be As Young As You Think') for helpful hints on how to stay fresh, sharp and in touch.

'That moment' when you should say goodbye to a friend

In our book 'You Should Be As Young As You Think, co-author Tim Drake makes a stunning observation. He says acquaintances can be divided into two camps - 'Radiators' and 'Drains'.

Radiators are people who beam a warm glow of energy and joy wherever they go. They are life-enhancing and a pleasure to be with.

Drains, on the other hand, are joyless and life-reducing. What's more, they suck the life out of their environment - and that includes their closest friends. As we say in the book "they are poisonous and to be avoided at all costs".

Here's an example of a Drain. A long time ago, I was a member of the Junior Chamber of Commerce. We had all sorts of members but most had an 'up-for-it' approach to life. Then one day a new member joined. She was not like the rest of us, and clearly had personal problems. In a great show of solidarity, everyone rallied round to integrate her and boost her confidence. Week after week, people made great efforts to help her in every way imaginable. From time to time, it seemed to be working and she would seem more confident only to slip back into introversion and depression once more.

Eventually, people assigned her to the 'Drain' category - for she had a classic joyless profile. However, one member, a generous and gregarious soul, persisted. She just wouldn't let go of the newcomer. She really took her under her wing and spent hours befriending her and coaching her. Needless to say, it was to no avail. A Drain is a Drain is a Drain. This lady defined herself by her misery. Unfortunately, our good Samaritan took so long to see this that, she too, began to get down and miserable.

Eventually she did let go of her millstone. I was there when it happened. She simply turned to the Drain and said that she could give no more, that she was completely and utterly exhausted emotionally and that she would now be turning her attention back to her husband and kids.

Drains, by definition, drain energy and life out of everyone around and it's important to recognise one when you see one and limit your time with them - or cut your ties entirely. Is this cruel? Maybe. But life is hard enough as it is, without having all your resources sapped by one selfish individual.

But, comes the question, how do you know when its time to cut the link? My answer is to listen closely to your instincts and then you'll know very well when the time comes. Again a brief example.

I was friends with a work colleague for a long time. And for a long time, I came away from evenings together feeling deflated and frustrated. He was also very opportunistic. Rich by birth, he paid for absolutely nothing, always expecting others to cough up with laim excuses about having forgotten his wallet etc, etc. However, as a friend, I accepted all of this until 'that moment' arrived. We were at a party and deep in conversation when suddenly the flow dried up. I think we both realised, at that moment, that we were not connecting, not on the same page at all. Simultaneously, I realised that this relationship was bad for me - and had been for some time. There were no arguments, no fights, no recriminations. The friendship was just over. This particular Drain no longer had hold over me - and we've not been back in contact since.

Everyday is a Young Brain Challenge

If staying young is one of your key aims, then you have to be up to the challenge every single day of your life. This is a massive commitment but it's the only way.

Of course, some days you will fall short of your goal. Everyone does. That just means redoubling your efforts the next day and the day after.

This thought came to mind the other day when I fell short. I called a friend and asked if we could meet to discuss his holiday to South Africa as I'd like to go there with my family. He happily agreed and asked where I'd like to meet for lunch. Instantaneously I sufggested a restaurant where we'd met a couple of times before. Only then did I realise how Old Brained this reaction was. So I stopped myself and told him I'd come back with when and where.

Not surprisingly, after 5 minutes on the web, I came up with a funky African restaurant to match our theme.

A week or so later, we met and had a wonderfully original meal full of unknown spices and exotic fish! Of course, I was happy to have come up with a Young Brain solution but was equally horrified at how easy it was to fall into stick-in-the-mud thinking. Truly, to rejuvenate, it's important to be on your guard - everyday.

Holiday fun

Part of being young at heart is enjoying a good belly-laugh or engaging in innocent horse-play.
So I thought I'd bring a smile to your Summer with something seriously funny - and topical.

So thanks to http://myitforum.com/ here are some great 'out of the office' automatic email replies:

1. I am currently out of the office at a job interview and will reply to you if I fail to get the position. Please be prepared for my mood.

2. You are receiving this automatic notification because I am out of the office. If I was in, chances are you wouldn’t have received anything at all.

3. Sorry to have missed you, but I’m at the doctor’s having my brain and heart removed so I can be promoted to our management team.

4. I will be unable to delete all the emails you send me until I return from vacation. Please be patient, and your mail will be deleted in the order it was received.

5. Thank you for your email. Your credit card has been charged $5.99 for the first 10 words and $1.99 for each additional word in your message.
6. The email server is unable to verify your server connection. Your message has not been delivered. Please restart your computer and try sending again.

7. Thank you for your message, which has been added to a queuing system. You are currently in 352nd place, and can expect to receive a reply in approximately 19 weeks.

8. Hi, I’m thinking about what you’ve just sent me. Please wait by your PC for my response.

9. I’ve run away to join a different circus.

10. I will be out of the office for the next two weeks for medical reasons. When I return, please refer to me as ‘Kate’ instead of Dave.

How to be young without make-up or surgery

Have you ever thought about breast augmentation or liposuction? Or perhaps eyelid surgery or dermal filler treatments? You have? Not surprising then that the market for surgical and non-surgical procedures is rising at 20%+ per year. In Britain the total money spent by people looking for a lift to their looks is now almost £500million according to Research and Markets (quoted in The Cosmetic Surgery Market Report, 2008).

But, there is another way! You can be more youthful without undergoing the knife. And this is a technique that requires almost no financial outlay.

So, what is the secret of eternal youth? The surprisingly simple solution is that you need to think young to become young. Going about your life with a youthful mindset will keep life fresh and fulfilling. A genuine elixir.

If you want to know about the six steps to staying younger and feeling sharper, order the following book now: 'You Can Be As Young As You Think' by Tim Drake and Chris Middleton.

Everyone wants to rejuvenate

The desire to be younger has, in some quarters, got a bad name. Some think this urge is about total vanity. Others think you should accept your lot and just grow old with dignity. Both are wrong.

Wanting to be young again has little to do with narcissism and everything to do with staying relevant and giving your all in the short time we have on earth. It's about welcoming change, being open to others, taking risks and having fun along the way. It's also about caring for your own personal growth so that you can help others more effectively.

A few weeks ago, Tim Drake and I presented the main findings of our two year analysis on personal rejuvenation to a high level business audience in Manchester. All were in agreement. Being successful in business, as in life, needs young thinking - it needs leaders to have Young Brains.

One company director, only 38 years old, spoke up. "I consider myself young, especially compared to others around me. I now realise that I, myself, have got older than I thought. There is definitely room for me to rejuvenate".

But it's not only business people who benefit from rejuvenation. Tim and I also spoke to a well-known millionaire who said to us: " I think the concept is brilliant. I have a relatively young brain but it is getting younger by the day now!"

Meanwhile, we have given our book 'You Can Be As Young As You Think' to two long-time BBC TV presenters, Mark Ellen (Old Grey Whistle Test) and Peter Duncan (Blue Peter). Both are Young Brains. And both agree with rejuvenation to such an extent that they've gracefully written respective recommendations on the back cover of our book.

So wanting to be young is not about egotistical vanity. People want and need to rejuvenate - be they business persons, millionaires, celebrities or, indeed, people like you and me.

Paradox is the friend of Young Brains

Yes, there is a great temptation for people to slip into defeatist, Old Brained, thinking especially in tough times like these. This has to be fought hard against.

One of the key issues in times of uncertainty is the ability to be able to cope with paradox and over-abundance of choice. Faced with this, Older Brains tend to give into the temptation to sink into a comfort zone where they pretend that uncertainty and complexity don't exist and where everything is black and white. And usually more black than white.

The point is that this leads to anxiety, negative thinking, and a general giving up on the world today. In abandoning the rich, multicoloured tapestry of life, they start to accept limitations and eventually death.

The reality is that we live in incredibly exciting and challenging times, and it matters a lot that we get into gear and want to make a difference. Getting back to Young Brained thinking - especially for young people - is crucial to re-energising ourselves to take on the challenges.

In doing so, complexity and paradox become accepted as an inherent part of a complicated and richly textured world.

Would you take the plunge?

Henry Allingham is no ordinary person. Not only did he fight in the First World War trenches and live to tell the tale but he was recently confirmed the world's oldest man. At 113, Henry says that the secret to a long life is keeping within your personal capacities.

Of course, knowing your limitations is wise advice. No point trying to swim the English Channel if you can't manage a short workout in your local pool. However, there are many aspects of life where pushing your limits is good council. For example, the chronically shy would do well to nudge themselves out of their comfort zone and talk to the taxi driver. From such small steps, great things come. Soon they could find themselves talking to a stranger in the local supermarket and, eventually, the day will come when they meet someone and make a new friend.

This is part and parcel of what we are talking about when we use the term 'Young Brain'. Young Brains are those people who push past their inhibitions and find new excitement out of life as a consequence - a new mate, a different place to visit, an inspiring career move.

I was thinking about all of this today. For the first time, I was asked to do a solo live radio interview. The BBC's Mike Powell was to ring at 2.40pm and question me about our book 'You Can Be As Young As You Think'. Of course, I'd prepared but my heart was beating in my chest when the phone suddenly rang. Here goes, I thought. It was time to extend myself beyond my previous limitations!

And the truth is that, with a Young Brain attitude, I was able to give a fairly good account of myself and, hopefully, give a nice boost to the book's sales.

Would you? Would you be up for a live radio interview in front of thousands of listeners? Or, would you rather keep within your current capacities?

Of course, I'm not saying rise to every challenge - remember the failed Channel swimmer - but when something is within reach, give it a go. Prove to yourself that you have a Young Brain and that, in the future, you will be a bigger person than you are today.

Young like Bond.....James Bond

When you think about it, the Bond films have been amazing. Going since the early 60s, the film franchise is continually updated, always fresh and relevant.

Think, for example, about that standard feature, the Bond Girl. Starting with Ursula Andress, the Bond girl has been constantly rejuvenated. As time has gone by, she has become more assertive, less an adornment on Bond's arm or a victim that our hero rescues. In most recent films, she has become fundamental to the success of the mission. She has even, in Eva Green's incarnation Vesper Lynd (Casino Royale), been giving Bond the runaround!

This came to mind yesterday when I saw our now-launched book
'You Can Be As Young As You Think' on sales in Waterstones (a UK bookstore) next to Roger Moore's autobiography!

Surely the script-writers of the Bond series have Young Brains! They are in touch with social changes and have moved the films beyond conservative stereotypes and into 21st Century modern living.

Knowing when to hold your tongue

There are many potential traps we can fall into in our quest to have a youthful approach to our lifes. One is to go all out to ape today's youth. Copying today's street slang or teenager's clothes styles simply gets an older person into trouble. As Tim Drake says 'mutton dressed as lamb' is not a desirable label to have.

A second sticky point is to believe that rejuvenation gives you the license to make all the mistakes of your youth again. As we say in our book, 'You Can Be As Young As You Think' maturity should bring benefits - what we call The Wisdom of Experience.

Not everyone gets wiser as they get older - but some do learn the lessons of life as they go. We list 6 key wisdoms that come with age in the last chapter of our book - 'Eternal Youth'. One of these is 'an enviable equanimity' and I experienced a perfect example of this last week.

You see, Tim and I are very excited as co-authors, knowing that our book hits British bookshops on June 1st 2009. It's been such a long time coming! However, we were set back on our heels last week when our editor announced that the book was coming off the presses but they'd noticed a typo on the back cover! I won't spoilt your pleasure in spotting this whopper. You'll have to buy the book for that. But here's my point.

A younger version of myself would have got very hot under the collar. Young people are nothing if not impetuous and hot-headed; they rage against the world and its injustices. However, with maturity you get a sense that the best way to deal with the slings and arrows of bad fortune is to grin and bear it. The growing capacity to behave with grace under pressure is one of the greatest boons of increasing years.

So, on your journey to a younger you, don't take on all the clothes of the young; choose judiciously between the Wisdom of Youth and the follies of youth. Our book will help you come out on the right side.

17 Again

Would you like to be 17 again?

It's a familiar fantasy. By magically rolling back the clock, you'd suddenly have a teenager's thin and athletic body again. You'd have all your life in front of you. And most importantly, perhaps, you'd be able to 'start again' and avoid all the mistakes you've made in your life.

This fantasy is shared by Mike O'Donnell in the recent Hollywood film 17 Again. Mike gives up on a scholarship when he is 17 to marry his sweetheart who is pregnant. And he spends the next 20 years in a bad mood. He should have gone into higher education. He would have been a basketball superstar. And his wife is the culprit! She 'forced' him into choosing early family life.

Of course, with such a reproachful husband, divorce is her only alternative and 37 year old Mike finds himself living without his wife and on non-speaking terms with his two kids. And so he wishes he were 17 Again.

And he gets the chance when a bit of Hollywood-style magic lets him wake up as his 17 year old former self, ready to start student life again.

Rather than spoil the plot, let's just cut to the moral of the story. Mike eventually discovers that, for him, the importance of being a teenager, once again, is not that it allows him to cut it, once more, on the basketball court. Nor is it about being sexually attractive to young women. Given the chance to rejuvenate, he finds that he uses the opportunity to pursue what he truly wants most of all in life. And that is to get really close to his wife and protect and nurture his kids.

I watched the film with my family last night and I came away agreeing with the moral of the story. Aiming to rejuvenate is not, ultimately, about giving yourself a teenage make-over. But rather, it's about: renewing your ability to see what is positive and real in your life today; having a reborn ambition to strive for these goals; and rediscovering the dynamic energy to make them happen.

Gran Torino : the rejuvenation of an Old Brain

I've never had much time for Clint Eastwood but my mind has been changed by his latest film - Gran Torino. If you've not yet seen it, I'd recommend a night at the flics.

Clint plays a retired Ford worker and Korean vet, Walt Kowalski. He's just lost his wife and he's not happy. Not happy at all. The youth of today have no respect. His sons are arrogant and obnoxious. Gangs roam the streets and try to steal his cherished car - the Gran Torino. And to cap it all, the neighbourhood has been taken over by Asians.

Of course, the social commentary on American suburban life is a study in itself. However, the main focus is the old man and all his growling, grimacing and grinding teeth. He steps back from life and observes all this 'corrupt modernity' from behind a shield of intolerance, racism, closed mindedness and down right anti social behaviour.

Then comes the transition from Old Brain to younger brain. Slowly at first, he softens to his Hmong neighbours and lets himself be invited for a barbeque. It's hard for him but after he comes away saying that maybe he has more in common with this family than his own people. A young Laos girl calls him 'funny' - something he is vaguely insulted by - he has been called many things in his life but never 'funny'. The youngest daughter takes a shine to Wally ("stop calling me that!"). And finally he takes the 20 year old shy boy Thao as a surrogate son and decides to 'man him up', get him a job and encourage him to date a girl who has been making eyes at him.

By the end of the film, Walt has made a big step towards a Young Brain. Does he still have an acid tongue? You bet. But it's now reserved for the enemies of his Hmong neighbours. He has found a family. He trains the next generation. He gets a different cut at the barbers. He buys a fitted suit for the first time in his life. Some one who knew so much about death (during the Korean War) finally finds redemption and learns how to live.

Is anyone consigned to an Old Brain? Is being grumpy - and perhaps even hated - a destiny that people can do little about? This marvelous film reminds us that rejuvenation is open to everyone. Even Walt.

Blinking Botox

Would I have a Botox injection to erase wrinkles from my face? I really don't fancy it. But more and more men do.

Botox - or 'Boytox' in the new lingo - is increasingly popular amongst men. A staggering 300,000 American men have a Botox injection every six weeks according to Allergan, the manufacturer of Botox. Meanwhile, reports in Britain show that many brokers and bankers in the City have also caught the habit. And soon to UK TV screens 'Extreme Male Beauty' showing 'manscaping' cosmetic procedures.

So do you? Would you?

You'd certainly be 'on trend'. We live in a 'feminised society' where 'metrosexual' men are encouraged to be sensitive, intuitive and, yes, vain.

We also live in a world where the ideal of a 'real man' has radically changed. They used to be rugged, have abundant chest hair, give off copious amounts of pheromones (otherwise known as BO) and wear chunky gold medallions. Think Peter Wyngarde (Jason King).


Today's 'perfect man' is increasingly shorn of all body hair (and I mean all!), rolls on layers of deodorant and possibly has an ear stud. Think Brad Pitt or Leonardo diCaprio.

We also live in a very competitive world where the young and the beautiful have a natural advantage. First impressions count - as Malcolm Gladwell pointed out in his superb book, Blink. Our adaptive unconscious is fast and frugal. We judge others in perhaps the first 5 seconds of an encounter. Given this, who wouldn't want to look at their Botox best?

But there is a problem with both Botox and cosmetic surgery. They are superficial. First impressions may be influenced by physical apprearance, but lasting impressions are left by what what you say. And what you say is determined by how you think. Think young thoughts and people will perceive you as being youthful. Think grump thoughts and you will be seen as being aged- whether you have a wrinkle free brow or not.

Having studied this phenomenon for two years, Tim Drake and I decided to write a book on the proven principle that you are as young as you think. Our working title for the book? Botox for the Brain. Indeed, in Holland, our book is published under this same title.

But the point is this. If you are a man who is attracted by a quick Botox fix, you need to answer the following challenge:

What good is fabulous body if all you have is a frumpy brain?

If you want less superficial anti-ageing, and a more authentic answer to your desire to stay young, read our book: "You Can Be As Young As You Think (published by Pearson in June 2009).

Prostate cancer: you are never too young to act

My dad was into his 70s when he was diagnosed with prostate cancer. Fortunately, radical radiation treatment and regular check-ups have kept him going. Others in his hospital 'intake' have not been so lucky.

Whilst prostate cancer is a big killer in men - 30,000 a year in the USA, for example - many men developing the disease will die of other causes because the cancer often grows slowly (particularly in men over 60). This is no cause for complacency. Autopsies around the world show that 30% of men in their 50s and 80% of men in their 70s have prostate cancer.

Now, I've heard it said on the grapevine that testing for prostate cancer is not really necessary for the under 50s. Indeed, screening programs, even for the over 50s, are not in place in most, if not all, countries. Nevertheless, the PSA test is easy and requires a simple blood sample and results are back in a couple of days.

I had my first test at 45 - just to be on the safe side. You too could insist - it's your health and your life.

Meanwhile the Foundation for Cancer Research and Education recommends that all men take action today to prevent prostate cancer. It particluarly targets men under 35! Here's what they say:


"Research shows that a diet rich in ocean-caught fish, fruits, vegetables, grains, and legumes combined with exercise and relaxation, is the key to a comprehensive approach to preventing prostate cancer. It's essential for young men to understand that simple dietary habits they adopt now can greatly reduce their risk of developing this common, but treatable form of cancer in later life".


Difficult to imagine that eating more fish and cooked tomatoes plus drinking green tea and generally being active can save your life, but if that's all it takes, why not?

Why rejuvenation is good for the economy

I spend a lot of my working life trying to understand how people are changing and what new things they want from their lives. In the profession this is called trendwatching. I also take care to look at what trends other commentators are observing. And guess which trend is often overlooked? That's right. Our desire as individuals to want to stay young, vital, and relevant.

For the life of me, I don't know why this is. It is obvious to me as a social researcher that the trend towards rejuvenation drives huge sectors of our economy. In fact, as a driver of consumers and markets, they don't come much bigger. Look at the facts.


- The global market for anti-ageing cosmetics (including skin brighteners, firming agents and cellulite reducers) is estimated at around $13 billion

- Meanwhile, in America in 2006 there were nearly 11.5 million surgical and non-surgical cosmetic procedures performed – up 446% in ten years

- In Britain in 2006, face-lifts were up 44% on the previous year, and brow lifts were up 50%


In reality, the marketplace for youthfulness is much, much bigger that even these statistics suggest. Arguably, the whole fashion apparel market is all about looking young (and, of course sexy).

Likewise the beauty market. Indeed, I once interviewed Daniel Richard, who at the time was high in LVMH and MD of beauty boutique Sephora. He explained to me that beauty was all about death(!) - or at least the cheating of death.

So, in these hard economic times, don't let anyone say that looking after yourself and trying to remain young is a vanity that can't be afforded. The economy is stronger because of people like you.

Is Benjamin Button just fiction?

I went to see The Curious Case of Benjamin Button at the cinema last night. Written in the 1920s by F Scott Fitzgerald, it recounts the life of Benjamin, born in 1918, aged 80! Living life in reverse, he becomes younger as the years pass - until he eventually dies a baby 80 years later.



Personally, I thought the film over long, but nothing can take away from the technical achievement of making Brad Pitt geriatric and then gradually rejuvenating him as the years pass.

Director David Fincher spent an estimated $150 million telling the story of this fabulous evolution. He says that his key challenge was to achieve this feat without the film-goer being aware of all the make-up.

Wouldn't it be good if we could all rejuvenate - without the make-up and the expense? The good news is we can.

The book 'You Can Be As Young As You Think' shows how changing mindsets and adopting youthful thinking can help each and everyone of us rejuvenate during our lives - a bit like Benjamin Button.