Way of Champions Podcast

#432 Simon Hartley, Founder of Be World Class, on Owning Your Development, Parental Pressure, and How the Elite Performance Mindset Can Drive You or Make You Miserable

Jun 6, 2025
Guest
Simon Hartley
Simon Hartley, a high-performance psychology expert and founder of Be World Class, shares insights from his work with Olympic athletes and world champions. He emphasizes the need for athletes to own their development and balances passion with pressure. Discussing the impact of parental expectations on young athletes, Simon warns against the dangers of tying self-worth to performance outcomes. He reveals how the elite mindset can lead to success or stress, advocating for a nurturing environment to foster authentic enthusiasm and personal growth.
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INSIGHT

Talent vs. Early Ability

  • Talent often confuses early ability, but genuine talent is passion and consistent practice.
  • Those with natural ability may struggle later if they lack work ethic.
ADVICE

Own Your Development

  • Own your development by knowing exactly what you need to improve and working on it consistently.
  • Be self-aware and curious, practicing intentionally even without coaches present.
ANECDOTE

Johnny Wilkinson's Deliberate Practice

  • Johnny Wilkinson set strict goals, hitting 20 consecutive kicks before making his target smaller.
  • He increased difficulty by adding bad passes and opponents, showing deliberate practice's power.
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