After a slow start to the year, the last few weeks have been awesome but hectic.
So hectic that I’ve struggled to organise my thoughts, as I was planning to write more about how our personal energy levels impact what we do and how we think.
I’ll write more about that in the coming weeks, but today I’ll do a brain dump and share everything that’s been happening in the world of Ben, so I can push forward with a clear mind.
Work
I’ve been writing a report about how organisations across the globe do performance management, which has been a real eye opener, and a lot of fun. I’ve gotten to speak with people from many different companies, including Amazon and Microsoft about how they get the best out of their staff. And also got to chat with my old Brumbies trainer Dean Benton, who was the best I worked under at getting the best out of players by getting them to focus on the basics (sleep and nutrition).
In a nutshell, here’s what I learned:
Those companies believe anyone can learn anything with the right mindset (aka a Growth Mindset)
Coporate workers are expected to perform 95% of the time, where as athletes only perform 10-20% of the time they are at work. Performing is stressful and athletes get lots of time to prepare, which makes them feel confident and ready to perform under pressure. They also spend up to 50% of their preparation time on recovery to avoid injury and burnout. A stark contrast to what’s expected of the everyday worker.
Reward with rest: Workers who do a great job just get rewarded with more work. This sucks and plays a huge part in why people burnout. But there’s an opportunity for organisations to incentivise staff who perform well with more leave. Similar to sporting teams who let players have longer holidays if they maintain fitness goals during their break.
Ragnar and Travla
Last Saturday was the biggest day the Dock has ever had, as we hosted Travla beer’s Canberra launch, which is a new company started by Travis Fimmel, aka Ragnar Lothbrok from the hit Netflix show Vikings.
I’ve never people react like they did on Saturday when they saw Travis, as people flocked from other to get a pic with the celebrity, who was surprisingly a very down to earth and humble bloke. Either that, or he’s very very good at acting like that!
Either way, the day was awesome, the night was long, and the hangover was intense.
Read attached for more about Travis’s trip.
Up the mighty Brumbies!
Frown if you may, but I was so excited the other week for the start of Super Rugby that we pulled the kids out of school to take them to Sydney for the Brumbies season opener against the Waratahs at the new SFS.
The Brumbies played exceptionally well, especially the debutants Corey Toole and Blake Schoupp, and John "The Turtle" Ulugia came out of retirement to play his first game for the Brumbies in 12 years!
Before the game, I got to catch up with some old teammates, before catching up with schoolmates. One who recently bought The Village Inn in Paddington near the stadium, which is one of the nicest old pubs I’ve been too.
Anyways, the Brumbies dominated, somehow dug dig again to knock off the Auckland Blues last weekend in a thriller, and now face an inform Reds who put 70 on the Force this Saturday.
And to top it off, I’m hearing lots of comments lately like “I’m loving super rugby this year” as the competition structure is finally respectable, and the refs are doing a great job speeding the game up.
Rugby is back. Or at least it’s on the way. How good!
Thanks for reading. As you can tell, I’m a bit all over the place at the moment, so I’m gonna take a week or two off writing until things settle down. Cheers.
This is what happened to me in Canberra. I got rewarded for doing heaps of work by being given more work. It was great initially because I proved myself and got a few promotions but it got old pretty quick.
Made the move to the coast heaps easier. Less work load, more autonomy.
Then they couldn’t understand why I wanted to leave and were filthy at me for doing so.
Look after me or I’ll have to look after myself!
Thanks for sharing Ben!
Really interesting points regarding athlete Vs other workers. I personally see being a professional athlete as a 24/7 job. When you're on, you're on, but what you do in your free time can also impact your performance at work. Athletes often can't attend friends weddings/family events etc when they fall during the season. Rehab group players I believe are the hardest working of the lot.
Up the Brumbies!!