This ‘kid’ had just suffered a crushing loss in the 12th (of 14) games of the World Chess Championship. With scores now tied and two games to play, his attitude towards the loss—and the upcoming games, arguably the most significant in chess history—convinced me to take that flight. On the plane, I played a movie […]
A phone call with an 18-year-old prompted my impulsive decision to fly to Singapore. Read More »
As we step out of 2024 and prepare for 2025, it’s the perfect time to pause, reflect, and set the tone for the year ahead. Here’s some key pointers for leaders to approach the new year with purpose and ease, setting up a strong start for themselves and their teams. Reflect on 2024: Celebrate and
Setting the Stage for Success: How Leaders Can Approach 2025 with Ease and Flow Read More »
When High Performance Becomes Toxic High performance is sought after and celebrated in the corporate world, but there’s a hidden danger when productivity becomes an obsession. When the relentless pursuit of results pushes teams too far, the line between excellence and toxicity can blur. In a toxic productivity culture, the focus shifts from quality to
The Dark Side of Productivity Read More »
Nearly every pro sports team and business aspires to be a ‘high performance’ team, but most fall short. Here’s one perspective on what sets those rare elite groups apart. It’s well known that the world of sports and business is complex, ever-changing, exciting, and sometimes intimidating. Like sailing across the ocean, it’s far from the
What differentiates high performing teams from the rest? Read More »
Credit: https://businessnewsthisweek.com/author/admin/ Mind guru Paddy Upton shares his insights on putting the nation’s favourite pastimes – cricket and hockey – to greater use London, 28 August 2024 – Paddy Upton, the globally-revered mental guru who recently helped guide the Indian men’s hockey team to the bronze medal at the Paris Olympics, believes there is no
Seven useful reminders. I never thought breakfast at the Taj, Fisherman’s Cove in Chennai would dish up such a smorgasbord – that had nothing to do with food. It started as just another hotel buffet – I’ve averaged about 180 of them per year for the last 17 years of my professional life. This one
Breakfast buffet of a different kind. Read More »
On Christmas weekend, I visited my sister and parents, who I hadn’t seen for a number of months due to touring with the Indian cricket team. I had asked my sister, Nicky to arrange some different or interesting activities around the Stellenbosch/Paarl area where she lives. For the first morning‘s activity, I was told me
6 Lessons From Shovelling Shit Read More »
‘Exposure’ was one of the significant events that rolled into town with the covid circus. The carpet was pulled back to expose things like pre-existing leadership ineptitude, business weaknesses and relationship flaws. Unhappy employees became unhappier. Unhappy couples separated. Unhappy clients cut ties. The character of political leadership was revealed. Two areas of exposure that
The invaluable lesson of a leftover pizza Read More »
It was almost exactly a year ago that I was struck with one of those aha-moments in life! It happened at the beginning of lockdown and during a mental coaching conversation with the captain of a national sports team. For the umpteenth time in my life, I found myself discussing the concept of our ‘A-game’.
The story of an A-Game Read More »
Part three: Ideas for winning the long game. Psychologists who study survivors say that people who are rule followers don’t do as well as those who are of independent mind and spirit. Navigating our way through the many unknowns of the current ‘pandemic’ feels like we’re building a new ship and sailing it at the
The Smart Corporate Athlete Read More »
However it did bring out some of my best work.
“Unlock Your A-Game” was birthed out of a time of struggle and deep introspection.
2020 was a crap year for me! Read More »
I recently went on a fishing trip that had some mates think I was mad. The explanation reveals the sanity behind the insanity, which I’m moved to share here… First, the trip. We set off one Friday afternoon on a two hour drive up the East Coast from Cape Town. Our destination was a remote
Fishing for a Great Life Read More »
It doesn’t matter what your trophy or triumph looks like, as long as you have a goal that inspires you to action..
Fishing for a Great Life Read More »
Beginning in the early 1980’s, Australia hosted an 875km endurance running race from Sydney to Melbourne, which at the time was the world’s longest and toughest ultra-marathon. Only the best-trained athletes participated, most of whom were around 30 years old, professionally equipped and had back-up support for the race that usually took seven days to complete.
Slow and steady wins the race Read More »
Virat Kohli recently revealed that in England in 2014 he felt like it was the end of the world, admitting the he “just didn’t know what to do, what to say to anyone, how to speak, how to communicate”. It was only after Glen Maxwell and other cricketers had the courage to admit their mental ‘struggles’ that Kohli admitted his, saying that he didn’t do so earlier because of how this might have been interpreted.
Towards resolving mental illness in sport Read More »
