Articles
Make Time
Everyone wishes they had more time! We are all busy. Well, we think we are, or we try to be. Being busy means we are successful right? Wrong! Being busy means we occupy our time with tasks, meetings, and other activities, kicking the can further down the road so we can, one day put our feet up and enjoy that well-earned weekend, holiday, or retirement.
Lockdown Lessons.
“You may leave this life in any moment: have this possibility in your mind in all that you do or say and think.”
-Marcus Aurelias
Rebels TV - Gratitude.
Search for things to be thankful for, appreciate life for what it is and find happiness around every corner!
The road to WE…
The mindset of the individual and the mindset of the group are both necessary. It is however the one you invest in the most that will be evident in your actions as a player and a person. Have the desire for success, hold yourself accountable to your inner standards but also let others lift you up as you lift them for what is success if it cannot be shared?
Tall Poppy Syndrome.
When I was growing up, people would ask me what I wanted to be. I had numerous answers; an archaeologist, a marine biologist but never did I mention what I really aspired to be, a professional footballer.
Man in the Mirror.
We go through life seeking validation from colleagues, critics, friends and family. We attach a role or purpose to ourselves to justify our existence. I’m known as the guy that plays rugby. But that’s not who I am! Why should a profession define who we are as people? Isn’t life so much more than that?
Gratitude.
As of 2015 I had established myself as a player, received a lucrative wage and enjoyed many experiences; every thing in my life had grown exponentially except my happiness. As I got older and my expectations grew I became focused on the outcomes. This was amplified by the unknown duration of my sports career. These thoughts weighed heavily upon me. I felt pressured to make as much money as I could while I could. I believed that if I worked harder I would be more successful and if I was more successful I would be happier.
Time
Time is the most important asset we have. A lot of us fail to realise this. We live in an age of technology and accessibility. Great minds are put together to create a world of efficiency, where getting from point A to point B is quicker and all it takes to connect with someone in another country is the swipe of a finger. Why? So we have more time. More time to make money, more time to catch up on our social media, more time so we can stay busy.
The power of routine.
A coach of mine once said,
“If you do what you have always done, you will get what you have always got. “
The Beginning…
I remember the time quite clearly, how could I forget? It was the year 2015; we were halfway through the season. Things on the field weren’t exactly great. No matter how hard I applied myself to training and playing, I couldn’t catch a break. I wasn’t turning out terrible performances, but wasn’t exactly setting the world alight either. I was mediocre. Coming off two strong seasons and a Wallabies tour, my expectations for myself were much higher than what I was producing on the field. I was frustrated.
WHY…
The year is 2015. It is round 6 and I am about to take the field. I can’t remember the game plan, I don’t even really care who I’m playing all I know is that if I take a step on that field I’ll get a nice little bonus in my bank account. The next eighty minutes is a blur, I have a mare of a game and I find myself sitting in the locker room afterwards wondering what happened.