5min chapter

MindStrong cover image

#91 - Dale Steyn | The Person and The Persona

MindStrong

CHAPTER

The Importance of Being True to Oneself

This chapter discusses the importance of being true to oneself in both sports and life, and the challenges that arise when coaches may not appreciate unique talents. The speaker also shares advice to their younger self and emphasizes the need to prioritize the game over external displays of gratitude, while mentioning the importance of holding onto core values for success.

00:00
Speaker 2
So I guess it's just about being your like most just authentically you just doing your thing, finding what works for you, the balances that you're going to find in and out of the sport that just levels you out.
Speaker 1
It is difficult saying that, you know, it's easy saying it from the position where I'm where I'm in because I've achieved what I've had but and you know, you also have to rely on the coaches and stuff like if you've got an individual that is slightly different, but it's sort of amazing talents and a coach doesn't like that, then you know, sometimes that kid might not make it, you know, like and that's because of the person that's picking him. So it's difficult for me to say that you've got to be your own, but I think the majority of the time, like, or you always come back to who you are, you know, you always that's what that always boils back to who you who you are. So you've got to follow that instinct and just go with it. Yeah, I'm so cautious
Speaker 2
of taking up too much of your time. I've got just a few more. Oh, no,
Speaker 1
it's fine. Actually, I was moving stuff. We got some new furniture for my grand and I think I've got everyone trying to phone me and I'm delivering and stuff like that.
Speaker 2
So with all of this, what would you give yourself? What advice would you give your younger self?
Speaker 1
I had a good answer for this the other day. And my younger self that played for South Africa originally, my first three games, I was kind of like, I was grabbing the badge and I was kissing the badge and I was trying to be like, so like proving that I'm like, yeah, you know, I'm playing for South Africa. But then I quickly realized that playing for South Africa is also a business. You know, years later, and that if you're no good, you know, they will find somebody to to replace you, you know, and it's just like normal work, you know, like if the guy that's cleaning my pool is leaving my pool a little bit shady and green, I'm just gonna find someone else who can clean my pool, you know, no matter how much he loves his pool company, I'm just gonna be like, sorry, dude, you don't do a good job getting somebody else in. And if I could give myself my younger self some advice, like, although I would never change anything because I'm lucky I got to where I got everything like that, I would have just said, listen, focus on the focus on the game, you know, focus on getting the ball in the right place, focus on bowling it, keep your foot beyond the line, don't ball a no ball, you know, build pressure, take wickets and use that energy to do that rather than testing the badge and looking up at the heavens and being thankful for everything because it's great, there's a massive privilege to play for your country and it, you know, I can't thank God for my skill and everything like that, but on that moment there and there, you know, you have to be able to do and deliver what everybody wants you to do and deliver, you know, so I would focus more energy on doing that and save the badge kissing and all that other stuff or when you maybe in your room by yourself,
Speaker 2
you know, so there's some values that you hold that you think are really critical to you and that have helped you get where you are throughout your career and where you are now some like core values that you you think of. I
Speaker 1
think just being a good good good person, you know, like, I that's I've always tried to be a nice guy, always try to be like the guy that I can I can walk into the opposition dressing room and I can go and have a chat to them even though I've just tried to knock the guys head off, you know, and and he can chat to me but he must know that the next time he's playing against me, I'm going to do it again, you know, and able to kind of draw the line between who I who I who I pretend to be on a cricket field and who I actually am. I think that's the most important thing. Take all the things that I've achieved in cricket away and all that really matters is who you are, like, I've tried to maintain that with my family and my friends the entire time, you know, so that they never think that I'm unapproachable or above them. And I think that through my grandparents and my parents and some of the people that have surrounded myself with they've managed to help me in that and just keep me grounded like that that's it really, you know, like, yeah, my skill got me to. So yeah, my phone again, just ring.

Get the Snipd
podcast app

Unlock the knowledge in podcasts with the podcast player of the future.
App store bannerPlay store banner

AI-powered
podcast player

Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features

Discover
highlights

Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode

Save any
moment

Hear something you like? Tap your headphones to save it with AI-generated key takeaways

Share
& Export

Send highlights to Twitter, WhatsApp or export them to Notion, Readwise & more

AI-powered
podcast player

Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features

Discover
highlights

Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode