About Man vs Clock
Hello, I’m Anthony Middleton.
Back in 2010, my life was depressing, and my future looked even bleaker. I was stuck in a job I hated, drowning in debt, struggling with my health, and wondering if this was really all life had to offer. One night, after one too many glasses of Malbec, I made an audacious decision that changed everything.
I bought the domain ManvsClock.com, placed a countdown timer on the homepage, and gave myself 365 days to completely turn my life around.
Before that timer reached zero, I had to:
- Pay off £16,000 of personal debt.
- Quit my job.
- Leave England on a one-way ticket.
- Build enough online income to support myself.
I announced the challenge publicly before I had the faintest idea how I was going to pull it off.
There was no Plan B.
Somehow, I beat the clock by one week. True to my word, I landed in Kuala Lumpur with £1,000 to my name, a badly packed backpack, zero income, and absolutely no idea what my next move was.
I’ve never felt so alive.
So… why “Man vs Clock”?
At first, the name was completely literal.
Every day the countdown ticked closer to zero while I documented my attempt to reinvent my life.
That challenge ended years ago, but the philosophy never did.
Today, on Man vs Clock, the digital timer remains a reminder of life’s most precious asset: time.
It motivates me to take on ambitious challenges with deadlines, embrace uncomfortable experiences, and prove to myself that difficult goals become achievable when they’re broken into manageable steps.
The clock is still there, cackling away with every wicked tick throughout every mental and physical challenge I take on.
Regions
What you’ll find here
Over the years, that original challenge evolved into something much bigger.
Today you’ll find:
- Unusual travel guides from more than 150 countries and territories.
- Adventure travel stories and cultural experiences.
- Running challenges and fitness projects.
- Books, journals, and practical resources.
- Honest lessons from building an online business and a life abroad.
If I write about something, it’s because I’ve experienced it myself or spent an unhealthy amount of time researching it from every angle.
I try to stay in my lane.
Why I write
I don’t claim to have all the answers, and I try to avoid guru and influencer-speak.
Most of what I’ve learned has come through trial and error, plenty of mistakes, and occasionally making life far more difficult than it needed to be.
Almost every article, book, and resource I create is written for the person I was before the experience. I find that’s the best way to maximise its value.
Writing is one of my greatest passions, and curiosity has shaped almost every major decision I’ve made. Thankfully, writing gives me an excuse to indulge it.
If what I write helps someone else avoid a few mistakes, fixes a problem, makes them laugh, or inspires them to take on a challenge of their own, then I’ve done my job.
Where next?
If you’re new here, I’d start by exploring the travel guides, checking out my latest books, or seeing how far I’ve made it on my mission to visit every country on Earth.
Thanks for stopping by.
Anthony
