The Power Of The ‘Delusional’ Mindset – A conversation with Scott.
Article by Tasha Schembri for ZigZag Magazine.
It’s not everyday that you get the chance to drill your sibling on their career choices, screw-ups, alter egos, and thought process (this all while being on camera) – but lucky for me, that day came sooner rather than later.
And while the name ‘Scott Schembri’ places a particular image in people’s brains, most don’t actually know how Scott got to where he is, and the millions of rollercoasters he rode to develop into the person he’s become.
Contrary to popular belief, Scott wasn’t always viewed as an asshole in the eyes of the public. His humble beginnings, in fact, trace back to his days at MCAST, where he was studying art and design. This led to the rise (and fall) of his very first business, Torri l-Aħmar, one which I remember very vividly.
As a 19-year-old newbie designer, Scott found a partner within his course whom he worked extremely well with.
The issue?
They weren’t the only ones producing digital prints of iconic Maltese landscapes, and the pandemic didn’t make that any easier. Soon enough, Scott realised a business like this was not an easy one to scale, having made the difficult decision to move on.
He was later faced with the beloved COVID-19 restrictions, which deemed going to a gym, something so intertwined into Scott’s routine, impossible. The very few (and run-down) outdoor gyms available were also viewed as a danger zone, forcing Scott, and many others, to quite literally scrap their fitness routine.
With a lack of outdoor gyms, the most obese country in Europe, and a mentality skewed far away from healthy living, Scott committed himself fully to the cause.
And just like that, Bulletproof Culture was born, in the middle of a pandemic, when awareness on fitness and health was more important than ever.
Early days focused on projects like Project Robinhood – targeting the lack of outdoor gyms, working with local fitness trainers and nutritionists, and building a local community – all to inspire, motivate and educate. I asked Scott what was going through his head after having failed with his first business, knowing the same could happen with his new one – especially in a whole other industry.
“I was never scared about it failing. I think I was more certain it was going to be a successful project because there was an actual impact to what we were doing,” he answered.
This thought process and mentality is what would prove essential later on in his career when venturing into another business and another challenge – Fight Island and Scott’s notorious Project 360 challenge.
If you had to ask me back then what witnessing it all was like – I’d probably say “a blur between absolutely hilarious and absolutely ridiculous”. Now, I’d say his mindset and the local pressure are what made it all possible.
Last year’s New Year’s Resolutions weren’t quite doing it for Scott – he had spent New Year’s Eve totally sober in Valletta (unheard of for him at the time), with plans to cut out alcohol and completely change his lifestyle.
And what better way to do this than to create a similar concept on his fitness platform Bulletproof? So Project 360 was born – a challenge whereby Scott would take on one physical and mental goal and make this happen by the end of the year, with the aim of encouraging other people to do the same – sharing similar struggles, setbacks and challenges.
“Becoming” a professional boxer in a year was decided on, and the video was launched.
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Locals weren’t too impressed, though, and the backlash was harsh. People called him out, commented on his posts, attacked him from fake accounts – with the hopes of discouraging him from taking on such a challenge, especially when others who came before him took years to earn that same “pro boxer” title.
This same heat only fuelled his goal all the more, helping him to branch into another business, Fight Island, which quickly became the biggest boxing event the Maltese Islands had ever seen.
The first amateur fight was won, barely, but still a win for Scott nonetheless.
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Preparation for his first professional fight and second Fight Island event was far from easy – training twice daily as well as changing round his diet. He did this while also managing the organisation of the event at the same time – its media, campaigns, fight cards, and selling of tickets. These challenges still didn’t set him off track, only pushing him more, taking him to the win and securing his ‘pro’ title.
The power of the underdog is quite a powerful one, and completing Project 360 – with all its setbacks – proved this beautifully, shedding light on this ‘delusional mindset’.
Having worked with some of the biggest names in the industry (Dejan Stipke, Stan Browney, Mike Thurston, Jasmina Svilenova, among others) also added to that fuel –
“We learnt that we’re not that far away from our idols – that was the best boost for us. They say never meet your heroes, I disagree. These guys are normal guys, just like us,” Scott stated.
He later proved this, together with his partner Adam Sullivan and the Bulletproof team, through one of their biggest projects to date, the Free Gyms Campaign – a collaboration with the government set to provide a 6-month free gym membership to all 18, 19 and 20-year-olds in Malta and Gozo.
And for tips to anyone listening or reading, Scott urged people to do whatever it is that makes them happy, to try that ‘delusional’ career change, take on that next challenge, and be the person they truly want to, because someday soon, “we’ll all be seven feet under, and no one will remember us”.
