Longevity, Lobbying, Veterans, End of Life Care, Protocols,...it's all connected
Welcome back to The Microdose Diet a newsletter about personal and professional growth using alternative medicines, such as microdosing psychedelics. đ
I just came back from the Wonderland Conference in Miami, the event attracts thousands of industry experts, investors, entrepreneurs, practitioners and enthusiasts for 3 days. I have to say that it was probably the most uplifting conference I have ever attended! Not only people are super easy to connect with, their backgrounds are very diverse and they are really passionate about the spaceâŚthis is as far away from discussing open banking as can be. đ
I shared my thoughts on stage on âMicrodosing Psilocybin for Executives and Entrepreneursâ and on âConscious Businessesâ. Both are very much linked; entrepreneurs and executives who microdose are not only more mentally healthy and performant they are also more mindful and present, at work, at home and everywhere in between. Thus making professional (and personal) decisions from a new elevated perspective, acting not reacting, off their past autopilot and fearful responses.
FMP, being more conscious as a professional and an individual is not about becoming a yoga teacher in Bali. It is about becoming more present, authentic and confident in yourself and your own choices. These changes happen in the life you are already living; your perception and actions are just becoming more mindful, upleveled, less driven by fear, anger and scarcity. I would actually argue against the view that more conscious businesses are what the world needs. I strongly believe that we need more authentic, confident, serene, passionate entrepreneurs and executives in our current structures, may they be financial institutions, technologies companies, governments, big and small, local and international. This is where the needle will be moved; by people of influence becoming more authentically themselves, more independent and critical thinkers, more inspired, less on the merry-go-round, less stuck, less desolate, less easily influenced.
This is how I approach my own business The Microdose Diet, may it be the book, the online course, the microdosing products, the speaking engagements, this newsletter and podcast. Everything I touch now I look at it from a dual perspective: Am I inspired by this project? Will it be a profitable or at least a valuable project for my business as a whole? If one of the answers is negative, I just shelve it. Doesnât mean I will never do it. It just means that at this point, I am not. Regardless of what âI am supposed to doâ, âothers doâ and" âthe advice of expertsâ. In the past, I used to question my intuition, thought-process and ultimately decisions. Now I am very confident in my own analytical and decision-making abilities. I made significant investments in my business, after doing solid due-diligence, and for the first time in a very long time, I know without any doubt that it is the right direction.
Having decisions made in isolation of what is good/bad for the bossâ career (regardless of the overall outcome for the organization), what competitors are doing, or what overpaid, riddled with conflict of interest, external consultants are recommending, would yield not only great bottom-line results, but also more pleasant work environments. This would require to approach decisions in organizations in a more mindful, independent and confident way.
For that to happen you need professionals with a solid internal compass. Compass that executives and entrepreneurs have been robbed of, many decades ago, mostly via a powerful conditioning to obey, fit in and be accepted. Whether you like Musk, Bezos, Zuckerberg or not, you have to recognize that they know without the shadow of a doubt what they are aiming for and are fully supportive of themselves and their choices. Most of us donât have that. We are not sure of ourselves, our thoughts, our choices, our abilities and we are not able to fully commit to ourselves and our goals, nor capable of sustaining othersâ criticism and rejection. This was one of the main reasons I started microdosing psilocybin. I was so angry, frustrated, depressed, despaired even, by my inability to play my own game fully. And I knew without the shadow of a doubt that if I were to continue living my life this way I would die with a lot of regrets and disappointments. It is not about taking mindless risks (I donât like that and I donât do that), but it is about living life fully, authentically and as big as it gets.
Now that you have a LOT of context on my perspective between microdosing psilocybin, conscious executives and entrepreneurs, success, passion and happiness at work, letâs explore the top 3 takeaways from the conference!đ
đ§ââď¸ Correlation between Psychedelics, Mental Health and Longevity
For this yearâs edition, Wonderland added âmental healthâ and âlongevityâ to their streams in addition to âpsychedelicsâ. It seems obvious at posteriori that these angles are tightly inter-connected. One of the speakers, Dave Asprey, made a very thoughtful presentation on âBrain Longevityâ, connecting one to the others. Even if we are still miles away from understanding pretty much anything when it comes to the interrelation between the brain and the mind, it seems pretty plausible that an healthy mind and an healthy brain are tightly linked. Similarly healthy minds and brains seem pretty key in increasing longevity (living a long and healthy life). And this is where psychedelics come in play. By positively impacting mental health and health in general (think treatments for stress, anxiety, depression, addiction, PTSD), psychedelics directly contribute to participantsâ longevity. Accordingly, longevity investors were actively investigating businesses at Wonderland. I already mentioned Dave Asprey who is is launching a $100 million longevity venture fund. Garri Zmudze, Managing Partner of LongeVC (donât you love that name?!), spoke about the challenges and opportunities of investing in mental health. An early-stage VC fund, LongeVCâs mission is to bring breakthrough biotech to market, focusing on the science that will change lives and transform health. In the near future and at large, you can expect to see more correlation made between psychedelics, mental health, and longevity (and one might argue biohacking), re-centering even more the discussion on psychedelics and healing.
Learn more about how you can strategically microdose psilocybin to find more success, calm and joy at work and in your life.
I am working on an online course that will be available early next year. Add yourself to the waitlist now to benefit from the early-bird pricing.
đ¨âđźLobbying, Veterans, End of Life Care and Civil Disobedience
Lobbyists were also in attendance at Wonderland. They came from multiple angles but the bottom line is the same - providing wider access to psychedelics for healing purposes. The interesting thing when it comes to psychedelics is the bi-partisan support. One might expect that this topic would be a liberal playground but it is absolutely not the case. The positive impact on veteransâ mental health and overall health makes it front and center for politicians of all colors and stripes. For reference the Veterans Affairs is the largest healthcare system in the US. In both Canada and the US the VAs are hard at work with clinical trials on psychedelics with applications ranging from addiction to PTSD. The rates of addiction, suicide and homelessness in veterans are alarmingly high and supporting their reintegration in civil society with strong mental health is rightfully top of mind.
End of life care is also a topic that is dear and near to many politicians and another angle that might accelerate access to psychedelics. When it comes to the decriminalization and legalization of psychedelics a lot is happening, which is fabulous. However, the timing and specifics are still pretty murky.
This brings us to civil disobedience. Many are frustrated by what they see as an irrational and unfair legal framework when it comes to the use of psychedelics for healing purposes. Many calls to push the boundaries of what is currently legal were heard from the stages of Wonderland. From scientists, MDs, psychotherapists, practitioners, patients, participants, entrepreneurs and investors the frustration and incomprehension were palpable. Some even made parallels with Rosa Parks and Womenâs voting rights: âWe broke rules to expandâ. The obvious cognitive dissonance between, on one hand, how substances with large negative side-effects on health, such as alcohol and tobacco, are managed by the government and, on the other hand, the approach used for psychedelics is exasperating many. With the increase of lobbying, the veterans health crisis and a more outspoken community, one can expect to see an acceleration of the pace of legislative and regulatory changes.
đ§ A flurry of actors, approach, products and businesses for one common reality
There was a very wide array of actors represented at Wonderland. From veterans, scientists, coaches, to content creators and TikTok culture, everyone comes with their own background and approach. The saying that âto a man with a hammer, everything looks like a nailâ is as true in the psychedelics industry than anywhere else. We all come with our own set of tools, skills and experiences and they resonate with a specific audience. In my case my professional background makes me relevant to an audience of entrepreneurs and executives. It is easy to connect around common business challenges and corporate experiences. Veterans are more likely to gravitate towards veterans themselves and so on. However, despite disparate backgrounds several commonalities exist.
First is the key importance of preparation and integration when using psychedelics whether at micro or macro dosage. Everyone agrees that to maximize results psychedelics have to be used mindfully and strategically. Hence the value of the protocols. Many protocols, such as The Microdose Diet, use journaling as one of their tools. Protocols are actually the main differentiators for the different approaches of healing with psychedelics. Again the protocols will be rooted in oneâs experience and expertise, while being personalized for their specific audience. The Microdose Dietâs protocol has been optimized to 10-15min/day only, because no executives nor entrepreneurs could spend more time than that.
Second is the focus on accessing quality products. This seems to be a challenge for many. One conference participant (a veteran) located in Miami and suffering from PTSD told me about a private club offering access to quality products. Members have to pay a subscription fee for the privilege to buy premium products. This struggle is real as establishing trust with a psychedelicsâ provider is not straightforward due to the grey zone most have to operate under. This gave me an additional confirmation re the launch my own line of microdosing products. I am currently working with a clinic that is already providing premium psilocybin caps to their in-person patients under the special access program. If you are interested you can join the waitlist, the first batch will only be for 100 bottles so donât be shy! It will be on a first come, first serve basis.
Third is the challenge for many businesses in the psychedelics space to reach profitability and scale. Ketamine clinics are a very real example of that, with many going under despite tremendous passion and efforts to keep going. Many of these businesses simply donât have a business model with solid economics associated. It is just not possible to make money the way they are structured. The belief and love of the space are not enough. And, letâs face it, scientists and academics donât necessarily make the best entrepreneurs either. A flurry of businesses in the psychedelics industry or adjacent will consolidate or not survive. Others will pivot to a different model or geography. Many retreats already operate from friendly jurisdiction such as Jamaica or The Netherlands.
Later this week I will be speaking on âInvesting into the Future of Medicine and Brain Healthâ at The Cannabis & Psychedelics Investment Summit in NYC. It will be interesting to hear what the audience of HNWI and FO is looking for when allocating capital to the psychedelics space.
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About The Microdose Diet
The Microdose Diet by Peggy Van de Plassche focuses on personal and professional development using alternative medicines, such as microdosing psilocybin, tapping meditation, journaling, guided meditation and visualization â¨
I am Peggy Van de Plassche, a former banker and VC who spent 20 years in the financial services and technology industries. I now speak and write about the benefits of alternative medicines, such as microdosing psilocybin, for professional and personal growth. I created More! The Microdose Diet - the 90 Day Plan for Success, Passion and Happinessđž My book will be published in 2024 and available for pre-order on Amazon.ca and Amazon.com in November 2023.
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This newsletter is designed to entertain and inform, not provide medical advice. You should always consult your doctor when it comes to your personal health or before you start any treatment đŠş