Tom May and Simon Hartley Podcast: Elite Sports Stars Life A

Tom May, a former England rugby international player and Simon Hartley, a leading UK performance coach and sports psychology consultant, will return for season two of their podcast with a new sponsor and a stellar line-up of some of the world’s elite sports stars to find out how they navigate work life after a career in a professional sport.

Podium Podcast takes a light-hearted yet in-depth look at the mental application it takes these sports stars to be top of their game and how that translates to life on the field, and then beyond when they leave sports and pick up a career or venture into business. By its nature, the interviews include entertaining insider stories from the locker room as well as value-adding insights about the techniques and tactics that help deliver world-class performance both on the field and in business.

For business owners and CEO’s looking for some insights from the word of elite sports stars, Hartley and May offer these ten tips from the interviews with the athletes:

Sustainable Success. Change your perspective of what winning means. Often, in business, we get caught up looking at the month or quarter we’re in (or in sport, the current competition) but if we look to the long term instead, we start learning from our current performance specifically so we can get better in the long run. Success is more a journey than a series of mini destinations.
Focused goals. Do you genuinely and clearly know what you want from life and what you want to achieve or is it a bit vague? Often, we leap into the first thing that falls into our path because we feel uncomfortable in a void and want to commit to something. It’s ok to exploreour options and allow some time to unfold before making decisions so that we rather wait for the right thing.
Be Adaptable. Have a plan but know it’s always adaptable for example when an injury forces someone out the game, or if we are made redundant or lose our jobs. It’s incredibly important for your mindset to know that you’re moving towards a goal and not just treading water.
Self-sufficiency. Being a business owner is not easy and like in sport, we are put to the test with challenges in all forms. Being self-sufficient allows us to be accountable, resilient and drive our own performance which separates the amateurs from the professionals.
Relationships are the key to being successful in any walk of life. Work together with everyone on your team to move towards the established common goal. You don’t have to be best friends, but if you’re unpleasant, no-one’s going to want to deal with you.
Leadership. We are all different in our values and beliefs and being a leader means trying to get the best out of people. Step back when someone is presenting their worst side and have some degree of empathy to find a way to understand their position and get things back on track.
Clarity. Everyone needs to know what their roles and responsibilities are upfront so they can play together as a team. It doesn’t matter how big or small the roles are, they all contribute in some way to keeping the machine working. Take accountability and make sure you pass the baton to the next person so they can continue the race.
Keep healthy. Our routines, diet, fitness and wellbeing are an essential part of the equation as they impact our mood and motivation levels and affect performance no matter what you’re doing. Athletes know how important it is to get rest and if they don’t, they’ll be prone to injuries. Society conditions us to ‘be hard, keep going’ and that it’s ok to work when we’re sick or exhausted, and resting means we’re ‘soft’. How many high-flying business leaders burn the candles at both ends, drink lots of caffeine, don’t get enough sleep, eat processed food and/ or go the whole day without eating because they’re too busy. This is a big factor in being able to perform at your best in both the short and long term. Don’t compromise on your health.
Importance of Balance. Everyone needs an outlet away from sport (or their main line of work) – it gives us the downtime to reconnect with ourselves and improves our ability to function consistently. If we constantly lunge from one thing to next it indicates we’re imbalanced. Don’t sacrifice your happiness for success.
Keep it fun! Find enjoyment in your work, or even the people you work with. We’re often so overwhelmed by our day-to-day work activity we forget to find any enjoyment in it. At the heart of everything we do, not least work, there should be enjoyment.

Podium Podcast Season Two launches this week with 12 brand new episodes, featuring interviews with:

An integral member of England & Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and triumphant Ashes-winning team of 2005, Simon Jones MBE.
South African Rugby Union (SA Rugby) stalwart to the owner of an organic farm and retreat in Costa Rica, Joe van Niekerk.
World Champion & OIympic rower to conflict diplomat, Cath Bishop.
Wasps and Scottish Rugby winger to sports industry exec, Kenny Logan.
Premier League footballer to the Chief Commercial Officer of one of London’s most in-demand apparel brands, NICCE, Matt Bullock.
A Harlequins and England Rugby legend talking about the challenges of transition and tackling a Master’s degree in Sport Directorship to help prepare for life after pro sport, Mike Brown.

Justin Perkins, exec producer of Podium Podcast and co-founder of bwc media says: “Ultimately, we’re aiming to give our listeners an insight into how world-class performers think, and some of that discussion exposes valuable insights of how it’s helped them become successful in their business ventures too. That’s where our co-hosts prove so important. In Tom May we have a former professional athlete who can fully relate to the pro sport lifestyle, and Simon Hartley has worked with leading commercial organisations and several of the UK’s most successful sports teams, including premier league football and premiership rugby clubs so comes at it from a performance coaching perspective. It provides an easy balance between fun and formal”, Perkins said.

The show’s new sponsor partner, True Potential, are one of the UK’s most innovative and fastest growing wealth management firms with more the £22bn under management. The firm have partnered with Podium Podcast because they felt the content aligned with their own brand values and ethos.

Luke McGrath, Head of Marketing at True Potential Wealth Management, said: “We’re excited to be working with the team at Podium Podcast and looking forward to season 2. There are some really great guests lined up and we’re sure there’s going to be some fascinating conversations and important insights.”

Listen to Podium Podcast here and find out more about True Potential at: www.domorewithyourmoney.co.uk

Elite Sports Stars Podcast returns for Season Two with New Sponsor and 10 tips for business owners