Andrew Sillitoe’s Post

As a Toronto sports fan, catching up with Toronto FC coach John Herdman is always a highlight. John, renowned for his leadership of Canada's national soccer teams, brings a wealth of insight and wisdom to every conversation. Over the years, having spoken with him at numerous events, it was a pleasure to finally meet his wonderful wife Clare. Our conversation explored into the incredible work they do as a family both on and off the pitch, revealing a deep dedication to making a difference in the community. Their shared values shine through in everything they do, inspiring those around them. John never fails to impart a nugget of wisdom or two, as a true coach wherever he goes, a few I took away from last night : 1. Prioritizing Mental Health: John eloquently highlighted the urgent need to destigmatize mental health issues, drawing from powerful personal anecdotes that underscored the importance of community support and resilience. His insights shed light on the often-overlooked challenges many athletes face, emphasizing the crucial role of a supportive environment. 2. Learning from Failure: In our discussion, John emphasized the necessity for a cultural shift in Canada to embrace failures as opportunities for growth. He shared how this perspective has transformed his players' approach to challenges, emphasizing resilience and the invaluable lessons gleaned from setbacks. His words resonated deeply, underscoring the significance of perseverance on the path to success. 3. Passing on Values: Reflecting on the proud moment of his son's professional debut with the Vancouver Whitecaps, John emphasized the enduring impact of legacy and the transmission of values across generations. His unwavering commitment to instilling important values in his family and players speaks volumes about his character and leadership, both on and off the pitch. John's insights serve as a powerful reminder that sports are more than just games—they provide a profound platform for developing leadership capacity and shaping character. Through his visionary leadership, John embodies the core principles of resilience, teamwork, and continuous personal growth, equipping individuals to thrive in all aspects of life. Inspired by his example, it's evident that the principles of sports leadership extend far beyond the field, driving positive change in communities worldwide.

Three good habits I have picked from sports Reading, about how the athletes do it consistently is something that really inspires me. I prefer to call such moments 'the climax' which in summation can be achieved as a result of good habits developed over time. I too have picked a couple of good habits over time which have helped me stay on course to achieve my dreams. The list was long but listing down the top three habits I have picked over time - ++++++++++++++++++++ 1) Writing down your goals - this habit helps in bringing clarity to the mind. Learning from Richie McCaw - ex All Blacks captain and one of the best players in the history of the game of Rugby. Richie McCaw is a legend in the NZ sporting history. In the book The Real McCaw, he speaks the power of written goals and how they have driven him. During his childhood which was spent in a remote place called the Hakataramea, New Zealand, he recalls the conversation with his uncle. Do you want to be an All Black? His uncle asked one day. Oh, Yeah - said the boy. So the uncle charted a map (in the form of written goals) for his nephew writing down a series of paths from the Canterbury Under 21 team then playing for their provincial team and then the debut with the national team by the year 2004. Each goal was allotted a timeline and effort required was defined too. The conversation continued further with the uncle saying - The members of the All Blacks have a great responsibility on their shoulders. You have to be accountable for your behaviour. So you don't have to just be a good All Black. You have to be a "Great, All Black". The little boy smiled! When the list was ready, his uncle said - Sign It. Think you are already a Great All Black (G.A.B). The boy signed with the letters G.A.B next to his name. The Outcome - Many years later Mccaw came across this list and was really proud that he had beaten the goals 3 years ahead of schedule. He made his debut for the All Blacks in 2001. +++++++++++++++++++ 2) Positive Self Talk - this one really helps when you think you are down and out. Muhammad Ali before the world knew about him had already started calling himself the greatest ever. During his fight with Sony Liston, he showed his palm to the crowd signifying he will beat the opponent to win his fifth world title. True to his word even though he was in pain and bleeding, he began to self talk to pep himself up and a little later was able to beat Liston to win the title. He, many times used to say - I’m young; I’m handsome; I’m fast. I can’t possibly be beaten. And truly he proved to be difficult to beat. Another example is that of Novak Djokovic. Perched on the pinnacle of achievement, Novak Djokovic is one of the best players in history. He has been heard many times when talking with self on the court - Believe... Believe in yourself!!!! +++++++++++++++++++ 3) Staying in the Present - this habit enables you to focus all your... Continued in the below post

John Wooden is one of the most effective coaches in sports history. Not only was he great at coaching players to high performance, he had a deep compassion for those he helped. His teachings are universal and apply to your work and career as much as they do to sports. Here are John Wooden's 9 "Promises" that can bring you Happiness: 1. Promise yourself that you will talk health, happiness, and prosperity as often as possible. 2. Promise yourself to make all your friends know there is something in them that is special and that you value. 3. Promise to think only of the best, to work only for the best, and to expect only the best in yourself and others. 4. Promise to be just as enthusiastic about the success of others as you are about your own. 5. Promise yourself to be so strong that nothing can disturb your peace of mind. 6. Promise to forget the mistakes of the past and press on to greater achievements in the future. 7. Promise to wear a cheerful appearance at all times and give every person you meet a smile. 8. Promise to give so much time to improving yourself that you have no time to criticize others. 9. Promise to be too large for worry, too noble for anger, too strong for fear, and too happy to permit trouble to press on you.

HOW TO PROTECT YOUR SELF-ESTEEM IN SPORTS? Because no one has the right to tear your down - not even your coach, parents, teammates... 👉 Check out my post here with some tips and food for thoughts! https://lnkd.in/eQ82p2pq #youthathletics #selfesteem #sportperformance

99.9% of you are LOSERS... . . . In sports. And that is the truth because only 0.1% of us will end up in the podium (much lesser if you only count the winners) because that is simply how sports are. I recall a former Hong Kong national swimmer-turned-celebrity saying in an interview that he chided parents for getting children into sports because they want them to be winners - the reality is, most of them will end up losing, and that is just a statistical fact. So what good is sports then for the majority of us? Plenty! And the first and foremost is learning how to lose! And how to pick yourself up after losing, and eventually realising that the battle is within and not without. How it is all about being the better version of yourself day in, day out. It is extremely important in life to learn how to lose and fail. Because like it or not, you will at some point in time. I would rather my kids learn this early, and not think that it is the end of the world if they suddenly do not get that A in their studies, do not get podium finishes in sports, do not get selected in that performance that they worked so hard for. Because in life, things do not always go your way. And when it doesn't, it is okay. Get up, dust it off and prepare to live for another day! And that is why, learning to lose in sports is one of the most important lessons you will get in life. #loser #losing #sports #motivation #leadership #TGIF #life #lifelesson (Inspired by a sports-related post from a Linkedin Top Voice Personal Branding Strategist Ling Yah)

This might be a controversial and spark debate - but here it is anyway! I have been thinking a lot about systems, procedures and processes - in sport and in business. Let’s tackle sports first! Are systems stifling innovation and free flow of sports? Look at how sports now a days has more parity in most cases and this is typically due to systems being put in place that creates rigidity. I was watching my oldest son play rep hockey (9 years old). He is a solid player too 5 on his team. They had a practice that was just a fun go play 4 on 4. He absolutely dominated, I never seen him outshine the rest of the team like that. It got me thinking can systems hold back athletic players? Lots to debate here. Then it got me thinking about business in Canada and our innovation and productivity problem. Have we too many systems in place to many barriers that is stifling our creativity and innovation? Have we really just done this to ourselves? Can it be fixed? If so, where do we go from here and where do we start?

Keeping the attention of club staff to implement the plan is sometimes harder than devising the plan. How do you keep your club staff engaged in your strategy? By breaking it down into key steps, referencing and reinforcing the strategy document as often as possible. Here are 10 ideas to help clubs start this process and help to keep high levels of engagement when trying to develop a club! ⬇️⬇️⬇️

A few weeks back I entered an Orlando pool competition... You see, since becoming a dad, football was too big of a commitment for me -  two training sessions a week and a game every weekend. Didn't fit with my goals as a dad. But I did put a pool table in the new gaff as soon as we moved in 😂 I typically play 10-15 mins a day only, but it's part of my evening wind-down routine and I love it. Anyway, I entered a pool comp in Orlando not knowing what to expect. It's really big down here - with tournaments and pool leagues happening all over the place most days of the week. Long story short, I came third. But that’s not the point… The guy who won it was class - a 57 year old guy that had played in this particular pool hall since his 30's. And he gave me some real, raw advice. He said: "You shoot like a low-level pro... ...but your cue ball is amateur and lets you down massively" Basically saying - you can pot balls, but you have no idea where the white ball will end up next (often in the pocket by mistake) Now, this is something HUGE for online coaches. Most coaches don't have someone with more experience in areas outside of coaching, highlighting their blindspots and giving them solutions to allow for optimised growth. If you're a GREAT fitness coach, property coach, investment coach etc - and want to continue to be... How can you expect to be the best marketer in your niche at the same time? Ben - my coaching client - for instance came to our Mastermind in Miami for my top-tier group (before he upgraded for a second time to 1:1 private client) and in two minutes told me everything that was happening with his live masterclass. I asked a few questions, got the answers I needed and before it was time for us to be seated for dinner - I told the one thing he needed to do to turn 2-4x returns at scale to 5-10x returns. One tweak to his pitch. At the next event - two months later - he told me things exploded on the other side of that. Now Ben is better than me at so many things - including being jacked and I'm not 😂 But what he did want from me was 13 years of experience running ads and working directly with coaches every single day for 8.5 years and a dynamite record growing their businesses - NOT with a one size fits all, but in a fully personalised way. He installed it inside Systems of Scale and now as a 1:1 private client. Whether you want to work with me or not, this was a read. So let me help you identify your marketing blind spots in under 30 minutes and give you the roadmap to generate more leads in the next 90 days than you've seen this year so far. https://lnkd.in/e48nMQnt Looking forward to chatting strategy with you soon, Coach. Neil

The Winner Mentality: Europe vs. the U.S. As a Danish entrepreneur living in Europe and a father of three, I’ve been reflecting on why the winner mentality in Europe feels so different from that of the U.S. Why does this matter? Because the winner mentality in sports is so translatable to business. The discipline, resilience, and drive we see in athletes are the same traits that fuel entrepreneurial success. Here’s an example: My two oldest kids play two sports each, practicing 2-3 times a week. In Europe, that’s considered solid dedication. Transfer this to the U.S., and suddenly, sports become an entirely different league—literally. Kids are training daily, competing nationally, and even being scouted in middle school! And it doesn’t stop at youth sports. The U.S. dominates the global stage. At the Tokyo Olympics, the U.S. topped the medal table with 113 medals, compared to the combined totals of many European countries. This isn’t just talent—it’s a mindset of winning at all costs. Even how sports are marketed reflects this difference. Take the NFL: with only around 115 million Super Bowl viewers annually, it still holds the title for the most expensive advertising event in the world. Why? Because it’s not just a game—it’s a celebration of the winning culture, backed by relentless promotion and fan dedication. Meanwhile, in Europe, we focus more on participation, community, and fun—which is great—but what about fostering that hunger to win? How can we in Europe adopt some of that U.S. winner mentality—not just in sports, but in business and beyond

⭐What does SPORTS teaches you? ⭐ => My answer to this question has evolved over time as I grew up. As a kid the answer was, "It gives us happiness, keeps us fit etc..." As a Teen," It teaches us sportsmanship and be humble towards other." But as I grew old my thinking towards this question changed. Now the answer is ,"It teaches us how to survive the competition and how to beat the competition!!" There is one quote that has stuck with me is "EFFORTS DON'T COUNT, RESULT IS WHAT MATTERS" The same belongs to sports. Sports is nothing but a friendly way of competition. Although it is friendly but it is a competition, and, in a competition there is only one winner. There have been incidents when even with your best of efforts you lost the match. It becomes hard to digest that so much efforts has paid nothing. But in reality it has given you immense sense that you know, even your best efforts needs an extra effort to pass that winning line. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ According to me (might not be same with others) sports is the only thing that can make 2 best friends, for the time being i.e, during a match, one of their biggest enemies. Enemies with a mentality, "I have to win this match". I can say this because it has happened with me as I had to face my very GOOD FRIEND for a GOLD MEDAL match. (Ofc,I won 😁) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ It teaches us to stay calm under pressure, think straight and not to panic when the situation is not favoring and the main point, JUST HANG IN. NEVER GIVE UP. There is always a moment that comes from where you can bounce back and make the most of the opportunity as this is a one time opportunity. Think about backups, Plan yourself ahead of the competition and Think Straight are some of leanings that sports has taught me.| ( I can say this because I have been playing TABLE TENNIS for more than 10 years and has gone through these situations many a times). #Competition #Mindset #ThinkStraight #NeverGiveUp #StayCalm