BITESIZE #57 | Jonny Wilkinson: Maintaining passion to find flow

This week’s bitesize comes from our game-changing episode with Jonny Wilkinson. A conversation in our history that still resonates with so many.

It was an intriguing morning with Jonny, exploring his understanding of how to achieve, maintain and sustain high performance. Lessons that have been hard earned by a career he described as “surviving”.

In this clip Jonny describes beginning his rugby career in a ‘flow state’ of opportunity and passion. And how self-importance changed everything. 

Listen and watch the full episode with Jonny: https://www.thehighperformancepodcast.com/podcast/jonny-wilkinson

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We have created a FREE resource pack for teachers! High Performance is delighted to partner with National Careers Week! Sign up with your email address to be the first to know when resources are available. https://www.thehighperformancepodcast.com/education-sign-up-first/ 

Go out our website to join our members club THE HIGH PERFORMANCE CIRCLE where you can get podcasts, keynote speeches and boosts from some very special guests. Just go to www.thehighperformancepodcast.co.uk 

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In this episode, Jonny Wilkinson, a legendary rugby player, shares his insights on achieving, maintaining, and sustaining high performance. He reflects on his early days in rugby, describing a "flow state" characterized by opportunity and passion. However, as he progressed in his career, self-importance crept in, leading to increased pressure and expectations.

Wilkinson emphasizes the contrast between his mindset as an 18-year-old, when he saw himself as a nobody with nothing to lose, and his mindset later in his career, when he felt the weight of being a somebody with everything to lose. This shift resulted in rigidity and a sense of solidity, hindering his ability to flow and adapt.

Wilkinson draws a parallel between this rigidity and the fluidity of great athletes like Roger Federer, who possess an openness and readiness to respond to any situation. He highlights the importance of embracing uncertainty and being open to possibilities, rather than holding onto fixed beliefs and expectations.

Wilkinson's journey serves as a reminder of the importance of maintaining a beginner's mindset, staying grounded, and focusing on the process rather than the outcome. By letting go of self-importance and embracing a fluid and adaptable approach, individuals can unlock their full potential and achieve sustained high performance.

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[03:08.520 -> 03:10.380] So as an 18 year old, you mentioned that childlike side.
[03:10.380 -> 03:11.720] I went to Newcastle as an 18 year old.
[03:11.720 -> 03:13.080] I'm stood around Inga Tweagum, Marla,
[03:13.080 -> 03:16.200] and Rob Andrew and Dean Ryan and Pat Lamb
[03:16.200 -> 03:18.800] and these, you know, Gary Armstrong, Doddy Will,
[03:18.800 -> 03:20.960] these amazing, I mean, I could name the lot.
[03:20.960 -> 03:22.400] I just thought I'll just name the international team.
[03:22.400 -> 03:25.120] I'm like, oh shit, the entire team, the international team just thought I'll just name the international team. The entire team, the international team.
[03:25.120 -> 03:28.200] And I was just a kid in there.
[03:28.200 -> 03:30.560] And if I got five minutes,
[03:30.560 -> 03:32.800] or if I got two minutes or one play
[03:32.800 -> 03:34.200] in the team run before a game,
[03:34.200 -> 03:36.440] I was on the bench most of the time in that first year,
[03:36.440 -> 03:38.560] or for the first half of the year.
[03:38.560 -> 03:40.680] If I got on the team run,
[03:40.680 -> 03:42.360] the session before the game,
[03:42.360 -> 03:44.600] if I got on there for one play,
[03:44.600 -> 03:46.200] I was kind of like, whoa, when I did get on there,
[03:46.200 -> 03:48.360] I was just like, look what I'm going to give it.
[03:48.360 -> 03:53.000] Fast forward eight, 10 years, I'm the guy in the change room.
[03:53.000 -> 03:56.840] The only thing I'm talking about is pressure, expectation.
[03:56.840 -> 03:58.600] I'm judging the hell out of everyone around me.
[03:58.600 -> 03:59.440] You're not professional.
[03:59.440 -> 04:00.920] All the guys are wasting time.
[04:00.920 -> 04:01.760] They'll never make it.
[04:01.760 -> 04:02.720] Now it needs to be like this.
[04:02.720 -> 04:04.560] Oh God, you know, that coaching is rubbish.
[04:04.560 -> 04:06.540] They should be doing, this is what I'm talking like.
[04:06.540 -> 04:08.120] Go back 10 years.
[04:08.120 -> 04:09.120] I'm just opportunity.
[04:09.120 -> 04:12.600] I'm a walking embodiment of opportunity, passion.
[04:12.600 -> 04:15.200] Now, the only result of that is self-importance
[04:15.200 -> 04:17.380] because when I was 18, I'm like, I'm a nobody.
[04:17.380 -> 04:18.460] I've got nothing to lose.
[04:18.460 -> 04:19.740] I'm just exploring.
[04:19.740 -> 04:22.460] Now I'm a somebody, I've got everything to lose.
[04:22.460 -> 04:23.460] And that's why I'm feeling pressure.
[04:23.460 -> 04:24.520] I've become solid.
[04:24.520 -> 04:29.820] So those forces are all compressing me. Whereas when I'm nothing, I'm a somebody I've got everything to lose and that's why I'm feeling pressure. I've become solid So those forces are all compressing me whereas when I'm nothing I'm just fluid hence flow
[04:29.900 -> 04:32.500] So nothing can I just wind blows me this way?
[04:32.500 -> 04:38.460] I don't need to stand against it because I'm not this direction. I'll go any direction you look at the most beautiful genuses on the field
[04:39.100 -> 04:44.480] They're not solid. So they bend they flow there hold your beliefs like it look at as it down or a Federer
[04:44.480 -> 04:45.960] the ball goes here, It's kind of like
[04:46.780 -> 04:52.120] They don't expect anything or they expect everything at the same time. It's the same thing
[04:52.120 -> 04:55.560] It's otherwise known as being completely open and ready
[04:56.080 -> 04:57.820] now what I was
[04:57.820 -> 04:59.820] before the game was
[04:59.960 -> 05:01.960] just absolute rigidity
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[05:24.400 -> 05:26.400] Calm and I'll see you next time Remember there is no secret. It is loads waiting for you. Just head to the high performance podcast Calm and I'll see you next time
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