Merrick Watts talks to Osher Gunsberg about business and work life balance

Merrick Watts has carved out an incredible career, from standup to festival owner to SAS Australia glory – he’s an all or nothing kind of person.

He’s also someone who’s mentored me through some huge moments in my career, with getting back in to radio, and again mentored me through getting out of television.

You might not pick it, but Merrick Watts is an incredibly wise man with a monumental head for business, so when he came on my podcast the other week, I wanted to explore this side of him. The man who’s mastered the art of purposeful living and who combines ancient wisdom with modern entrepreneurship in ways that would make Marcus Aurelius proud.

Watch the video above

READ MORE: ‘My right side has completely stopped working’: Actor’s sad update after diagnosis

His latest venture? Posca, a hydration drink based on a 2,000-year-old Roman recipe discovered while he was studying to become a sommelier.

“I was doing some research during lockdown and discovered an ancient formula called Posca, which was an ancient Roman drink that the Legionnaires drank,” Merrick explains. “The Roman army marched on it, quite literally.”

This journey from ancient Rome to modern entrepreneurship perfectly encapsulates Watts’ approach to business and life – looking backward to move forward, finding wisdom in unexpected places.

Keeping the blade sharp

When we caught up, Merrick was spending some time filling in on breakfast radio. It’s not like he needs the money, but Mez revealed a philosophy that extends far beyond broadcasting.

“It’s an excellent opportunity to hone the blade. And I’m a big believer as a standup comedian, we often get a push every now and again from managers to be like, how long has it been since you’ve done standup? It’s not about generating the money. It’s about keeping that muscle memory and that skill set.”

He continues with conviction: “I know all too well that if you go too long a period without doing standup, you lose that edge. You lose your timing. And it’s the same with radio.”

This principle of maintaining your core skills, regardless of immediate financial reward, speaks to a deeper understanding of career longevity. It’s not just about the current gig – it’s about staying ready for whatever comes next. If you have to get ready to take advantage of an opportunity, you’ll miss that opportunity.

The power of purpose and preparation

Ask anyone who’s been around Merrick and you’ll know that his work ethic is legendary. A man who’ll regularly pull 14- to 16-hour days and go months without a day off, Watts is refreshingly honest about the cost of success.

“If there’s any wiggle room, if there’s any issue that comes out to you… if there’s a requirement made, that comes out of your personal time, that could be sleep. That could be exercise. That can be family time.”

But he’s quick to distinguish between pressure and stress. Following his mother’s recent passing, he chose to continue working, including filling in on breakfast radio.

“Pressure is different to stress,” he notes, “I don’t need stress, but pressure is probably going to help me with things rather than hinder me.”

For a daily dose of 9honey, subscribe to our newsletter here.

Seeking out the pressure to keep the blade sharp at every opportunity isn’t about being stoic or tough – it’s about making sure life’s challenges end up being a positive, even while experiencing the emotional pain of losing a parent.

This wasn’t about Merrick soldiering on; quite the opposite. In fact, he pre-emptively sought help to make sure he would be able to carry on, describing it as “if I’m in denial of grief, let’s go and expose it. Let’s open it up. If there’s a nut to crack, let’s be brave enough to go and do it. So I went to see a grief counsellor and just said… this is what’s happened.”

Fatherhood and the long game

As a father, Watts has developed a philosophy that might surprise those who know his disciplined approach to personal achievement. Rather than imposing his own structures on his children, he’s playing a longer game.

“My thinking now is rather than trying to imprint the disciplines and the procedures; (what) I think that they will benefit from is if they see, they will learn,” he explains.

“I’d rather let my kids form basis of who they are going to be, then employ the structures and the disciplines around it, rather than the structures and the disciplines, because that might inhibit their choices.”

His succession plan for his children? “Choice. That’s what I want for my children. I don’t want them to be me. I don’t want them to follow me. I want them to have choice.”

READ MORE: Which Hoka shoe is right for you?

The art of the team win

For me, Merrick is the smartest broadcaster I’ve ever met. He sees the Matrix, and understands exactly what makes great moments happen. Drawing from his extensive radio experience, Watts offers insights that apply far beyond broadcasting. His concept of “first best out” is deceptively simple yet profound: “As soon as somebody hits that punch line, hits that point, bang…get out.”

He illustrates this with a comedy analogy: “You’ve got a 20 minute set, but then you get to 17 minutes and a joke… absolutely smacked the crowd and people are literally applauding. You know what you don’t do? The other three minutes. Because you’ve got at least a 50 per cent chance, mathematically, it’s not going to be as good.”

But this isn’t just about radio or comedy.

READ MORE: ‘Most beautiful surprise’: Buddy and Jesinta Franklin’s baby joy

Nostalgia Trip: What happened to the faces we grew up with?

“It could happen in a real estate department, financial department,” he notes, “Like everyone’s contributing ideas to try to get the great outcome.”

This philosophy extends to team dynamics across any industry.

“Focus on the team win and the team outcome. Don’t worry about mix of voice,” he advises.

Some team members might contribute 15 per cent in certain moments, others 40 per cent, but what matters is the collective result, not rigid formulas.

The generous approach

Throughout the conversation, Watts demonstrates a generosity of spirit that extends beyond financial success. When discussing his preparation style, he notes: “I take everything I do very seriously, even comedy… people who work with me when I go and do my show, I will prepare. I will get myself ready and I don’t roll up half arse.”

This preparation isn’t just for his benefit – it’s about respecting everyone involved in the process.

“Everyone’s just like, “this guy is just loving this space” and I am, but I’ve worked really, really hard behind the scenes so that I can really enjoy those moments.”

READ MORE: Kate’s stunning return to royal family’s most traditional event

Ancient wisdom for modern times

Perhaps most intriguingly, Watts’ journey with his new hydration drink Posca demonstrates how looking to the past can create future opportunities. His discovery of this ancient hydration solution during lockdown research led to studying at the Australian Institute of Company Directors – a challenging experience where he failed multiple exams before succeeding.

When you listen to this part of the podcast you’ll hear the pain in his voice. It’s not the pain of regret or frustration, but pain which comes with remembering the work involved in achieving his goals.

“That was all in preparation for where I am now,” he reflects, “That was three years ago that I started doing that… I was prepared to commit my time, my family time, my own personal time, my holiday time.”

READ MORE: The reason your clean clothes stink 10 minutes into wearing them

His vision? “I thought I would love to see an Australian made and invented drink supported and developed here spread throughout the world. I would love that. Red Bull did it. Why can’t we have a little Aussie Red Bull story?”

The bottom line

Watts embodies a rare combination of creative spirit and business acumen, proving that success doesn’t require choosing between art and commerce. His approach – preparing meticulously while appearing effortless, sacrificing strategically while protecting what matters most, and finding inspiration in ancient wisdom – offers a blueprint for anyone trying to balance multiple passions.

“I work hard now. I will be able to give them the gift of choice,” he says of his children. But he could just as well be talking to you or I.

In a world that often demands we pick a lane, Watts reminds us that with purpose, preparation, and a willingness to look beyond conventional wisdom, we can create our own path entirely.

Even if it means going back 2,000 years to find it.

FOLLOW US ON WHATSAPP HERE: Stay across all the latest in celebrity, lifestyle and opinion via our WhatsApp channel. No comments, no algorithm and nobody can see your private details.