E35 - Siya Kolisi: A simple guide to achieving greatness

Siya Kolisi is the captain of the South Africa national team and the Stormers in Super Rugby. He is the first black man to serve as captain, leading the team to a historic victory in the 2019 World Cup Final.

Siya lifting the trophy is the enduring image of the whole tournament. Having grown up in poverty, Siya has become an inspiration off the field as well as on it. Named this year as the most influential person in rugby, he was also named a global advocate by the United Nations for its Spotlight Initiative to end violence against women.

Following the success of The Springboks Rugby World Cup triumph, Siya and his wife took the initiative to create The Kolisi Foundation to assist vulnerable South African households and individuals who combat the struggle of poverty daily - https://kolisifoundation.org/

Thanks to our sponsors Lotus Cars. Remember, you can get extended episodes of the podcast on our YouTube channel bit.ly/HPPYouTube and follow us on Instagram @highperformance.

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# The High-Performance Podcast: A Conversation with Siya Kolisi

## Introduction

* Siya Kolisi is the captain of the South Africa national team and the Stormers in Super Rugby.
* He is the first black man to serve as captain, leading the team to a historic victory in the 2019 World Cup Final.
* Kolisi is an inspiration on and off the field, and has been named the most influential person in rugby and a global advocate for the United Nations Spotlight Initiative to end violence against women.

## The Interview

### On High Performance

* Kolisi defines high performance as performing at the highest level of consistency and continuity, both physically and mentally.
* He believes that the mental aspect is the most important part, and that if your mind is not in it, you will never get anywhere.

### On Qualities He Looks for in People

* Kolisi looks for people who treat others with respect, regardless of their position or status.
* He believes that manners are important, and that treating people the way you want to be treated is essential.
* He also values people who are vulnerable and willing to share their emotions.

### On Talking About Emotions and Mental Struggles in Rugby

* Kolisi believes that it is important to talk about emotions and mental struggles in rugby, as these issues were previously not on the agenda in professional sport.
* He has started speaking out about gender-based violence, as he believes that men need to stand up and call each other out for their actions.
* He also talks to his teammates about their struggles, and believes that this makes them closer and more willing to fight for each other on the field.

### On the Benefits of Creating Relationships with Teammates

* Kolisi believes that creating relationships with teammates that go beyond rugby makes the team stronger.
* When you know what your teammates are playing for and what motivates them, you are more likely to go out there and fight for them.
* He also believes that these relationships can help players through tough times, both on and off the field.

### On Channeling Aggression on the Field

* Kolisi grew up around violence, and he does not like it anymore.
* He does not play to hurt other players, but he does play with controlled aggression.
* He wants to hit his opponents as hard as he can, but he always does it within the rules of the game.

### On Protecting What He Has Created

* Kolisi has created a strong foundation of people around him who share his values and goals.
* He believes that this is the best way to protect what he has created, as he knows that he can always rely on these people to support him.

### On Dealing with Criticism

* Kolisi has faced criticism from the media and others, but he does not let it bother him.
* He knows that he has the respect of his teammates and coaches, and that is all that matters to him.
* He also believes that the critics will eventually get tired and fall away.

### On Not Caring About External Opinions

* Kolisi has learned to not care about what other people think of him.
* He focuses on the opinions of his teammates and coaches, and he knows that he is respected by them.
* He also believes that social media can be a negative influence, and he has chosen to stay off of it.

## Conclusion

Siya Kolisi is a true high-performer, both on and off the field. He is an inspiration to young people around the world, and he is using his platform to make a difference in the world.

# Podcast Episode Summary: Sia Kolisi, Rugby Legend and Social Justice Advocate

## Overview

In this episode of the High-Performance Podcast, host Damien Smith engages in a compelling conversation with Siya Kolisi, the captain of the South Africa national team, the Springboks, and the Stormers in Super Rugby. Kolisi, the first black man to serve as captain, led the team to a historic victory in the 2019 World Cup Final, becoming an inspiration on and off the field.

## Foundation Work and Social Issues

Kolisi and his wife established The Kolisi Foundation to assist vulnerable South African households and individuals struggling with poverty. Kolisi emphasizes the importance of addressing social issues beyond sports, such as poverty, hunger, and violence against women. He believes that his platform as a sportsman enables him to use his voice for good and to challenge societal injustices.

## Handling Criticism and Social Media

Kolisi acknowledges that he receives criticism on social media, particularly when he speaks out about social issues. However, he remains steadfast in his belief that all people deserve basic necessities like water, food, and freedom from violence. He stresses that his role as a sportsman does not limit his ability to address broader societal concerns.

## Inspiration from Marcus Rashford

Kolisi expresses admiration for English soccer player Marcus Rashford, who has used his platform to advocate for social causes, particularly free school meals for children. Kolisi believes that Rashford's actions are more impactful than his achievements on the field and that he will be remembered for his social contributions.

## Unity and Division

Kolisi emphasizes the importance of promoting unity and fighting against division in South Africa. He believes that people should unite to tackle social issues rather than allowing differences to divide them. He encourages people to speak messages of unity and to work towards a common goal of creating a better society for all.

## Lifting the Rugby World Cup

Kolisi reflects on the significance of lifting the Rugby World Cup in 2019, not only as a sporting achievement but also as a symbol of progress and hope for South Africa. He reveals that the night before the final, he and his wife wrote down their goals and aspirations, including starting their foundation and addressing social challenges in their country.

## Teaching the Power of Dreams

Kolisi believes in the power of dreams and encourages people to dream big and work hard to achieve their goals. He shares his own experience of growing up in poverty and how he overcame challenges to become a successful rugby player and a respected social justice advocate. He emphasizes the importance of self-belief and resilience in pursuing one's dreams.

## Advice to Young People

Kolisi offers advice to young people, urging them to dream big, work hard, and not let anyone tell them they cannot achieve their goals. He stresses the importance of having a strong support system and surrounding oneself with positive influences. He also emphasizes the value of kindness, respect, and loyalty in building meaningful relationships.

## Resilience and Self-Belief

Kolisi recognizes the challenge of instilling resilience and self-belief in his children, given their privileged upbringing compared to his own. He takes them to see the work done by their foundation and exposes them to the realities of poverty and social injustice. He believes that these experiences will help them develop empathy and an understanding of the struggles faced by others.

## Ubuntu: I am Because You Are

Kolisi embodies the African philosophy of Ubuntu, which emphasizes the interconnectedness and interdependence of humanity. He believes that true success lies in uplifting others and making a positive impact on society. He strives to lead by example, both on and off the field, and to inspire others to use their platforms for good.

## Key Takeaways

- The importance of addressing social issues beyond sports and using one's platform for good.
- The power of dreams, hard work, and self-belief in achieving success.
- The value of kindness, respect, and loyalty in building meaningful relationships.
- The importance of unity and fighting against division in society.
- The interconnectedness of humanity and the responsibility to uplift others and make a positive impact on the world.

In this episode of the High Performance Podcast, Joe Batten and Damien discuss the importance of understanding an individual's journey and experiences to gain a deeper understanding of their motivations and actions. They emphasize the need to look beyond surface-level observations and delve into the complexities of a person's life to truly comprehend their perspective.

The conversation centers around Siya Kolisi, the captain of the South African national rugby team and the Stormers in Super Rugby. Kolisi made history as the first black captain to lead the team to victory in the 2019 World Cup Final. His remarkable journey from poverty to becoming an inspiration both on and off the field serves as a powerful example of the transformative power of sport.

The podcast delves into Kolisi's upbringing, the challenges he faced growing up, and the resilience he displayed in overcoming adversity. Batten and Damien highlight the significance of Kolisi's role as a global advocate for the United Nations' Spotlight Initiative to end violence against women. They also discuss the Kolisi Foundation, which Siya and his wife established to assist vulnerable South African households and individuals struggling with poverty.

The episode emphasizes the importance of recognizing the multifaceted nature of individuals and the need to approach leadership with empathy and understanding. Batten and Damien underscore the value of embracing diversity and creating inclusive environments where everyone feels valued and respected.

Overall, the podcast offers a thought-provoking exploration of the human experience and the power of sport to inspire and unite people from all walks of life. It highlights the importance of looking beyond stereotypes and preconceived notions to truly connect with others and create a more just and equitable society.

[00:00.000 -> 00:06.840] Hi there, welcome along to this week's high performance podcast and the first part of
[00:06.840 -> 00:13.080] 2021. Listen, it starts here, okay? It's the final episode of the third series before we
[00:13.080 -> 00:18.400] do our wrap up episode next week. But the fact that it's the first week of 2021 means
[00:18.400 -> 00:21.600] we have big plans and they're coming your way this year. The first thing I want to let
[00:21.600 -> 00:25.320] you know about is that we're going to be bringing you some high-performance highlights every
[00:25.320 -> 00:30.680] single day in January on social media. Small clips from the podcast just to
[00:30.680 -> 00:34.960] lift you up and help you feel inspired. New Year, New You, all that kind of stuff.
[00:34.960 -> 00:39.240] So every single day come to the High Performance Podcast for a little hit of
[00:39.240 -> 00:43.520] inspiration and of course you can get an awful lot more by heading to our YouTube
[00:43.520 -> 00:48.000] page as well. Just search for High Performance Podcast on YouTube and you can find us there.
[00:48.000 -> 00:51.000] As always, it's so helpful if you can rate and review us.
[00:51.000 -> 00:57.000] And as always, this week's episode, the first of 2021, is one you need to listen to.
[00:57.000 -> 00:59.000] Here's what's coming up.
[01:01.000 -> 01:06.000] People gave me this platform. I know I worked as hard as I could, but without people supporting me,
[01:06.000 -> 01:09.000] and I've got to be the voice for the people as well when they need me.
[01:09.000 -> 01:12.000] I'm not just a sportsman, I'm far more than that.
[01:13.000 -> 01:18.000] I'm so excited to bring you this episode, and actually at this point I'm going to give lots of credit to Damien Hughes,
[01:18.000 -> 01:20.000] because he was like a dog with a bone.
[01:20.000 -> 01:26.720] He had a friend who knew today's guest, he reached out to them, and he reached out to them again, and again, and again,
[01:26.720 -> 01:29.240] and eventually the call came to say
[01:29.240 -> 01:31.440] that our guest would be on the podcast.
[01:31.440 -> 01:33.840] We were so excited, and as it turns out,
[01:33.840 -> 01:35.360] he really enjoyed himself.
[01:35.360 -> 01:36.840] I feel like he got a lot out of it,
[01:36.840 -> 01:38.360] and I really hope that you do as well,
[01:38.360 -> 01:40.200] because the messages that he has
[01:40.200 -> 01:42.560] and what he stands for are so strong.
[01:42.560 -> 01:44.840] Just to let you know that the first couple of answers
[01:44.840 -> 01:47.200] you hear, the audio quality isn't great,
[01:47.200 -> 01:48.740] but we corrected the problem.
[01:48.740 -> 01:50.680] And so stick with it for a couple of minutes
[01:50.680 -> 01:53.720] and you will be able to hear our guest an awful lot better.
[01:53.720 -> 01:55.320] Thanks so much for being with us.
[01:55.320 -> 01:58.160] It's time for the first high-performance podcast episode
[01:58.160 -> 02:00.200] of 2021.
[02:00.200 -> 02:01.040] Enjoy.
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[04:15.200 -> 04:18.920] You're listening to the High Performance Podcast, the pod that delves into the minds of some
[04:18.920 -> 04:23.960] of the most successful artists, visionaries, entrepreneurs and sports people on the planet
[04:23.960 -> 04:25.120] with one aim to
[04:25.120 -> 04:29.240] unlock the secrets to their success so that you too can live a high-performance
[04:29.240 -> 04:33.720] life. Professor Damien Hughes, expert in high-achieving team cultures is with me
[04:33.720 -> 04:38.000] as ever and today's guest Damien is a combination of someone who is hugely
[04:38.000 -> 04:42.320] inspiring to young boys and girls growing up in difficult circumstances
[04:42.320 -> 04:45.320] like he did but actually equally inspiring
[04:45.320 -> 04:46.760] to the high achieving professionals
[04:46.760 -> 04:49.200] that he spends his day either competing with
[04:49.200 -> 04:50.360] or competing against.
[04:50.360 -> 04:52.680] And that tells us quite a lot about him, I think.
[04:52.680 -> 04:53.940] Absolutely, Jake.
[04:53.940 -> 04:55.880] There's a phrase, a really key phrase
[04:55.880 -> 04:59.480] that keeps coming back to me in relation to today's guest.
[04:59.480 -> 05:02.320] It's a Zulu phrase called Ubuntu,
[05:02.320 -> 05:05.920] which translates as I am because you are and it's almost
[05:05.920 -> 05:10.160] about I lift others up and I do that through my own example and today's guest
[05:10.160 -> 05:14.920] is just a perfect epitome of somebody that does precisely that. Well let's meet
[05:14.920 -> 05:19.520] him then, a man who lifts others by his own actions because today we talked to a
[05:19.520 -> 05:24.480] trailblazer, a man who's done something nobody on the planet managed before him
[05:24.480 -> 05:27.000] the first ever black man to captain the Springboks,
[05:27.000 -> 05:30.000] but that is so much more than just a sporting role.
[05:30.000 -> 05:33.000] As he lifted the 2019 Rugby World Cup above his head,
[05:33.000 -> 05:36.000] he lifted with it the hopes and the dreams of millions
[05:36.000 -> 05:39.000] of young South Africans who know that life is not about
[05:39.000 -> 05:42.000] where you start, but it's about where you finish.
[05:42.000 -> 05:44.000] Welcome to the High Performance Podcast,
[05:44.000 -> 05:46.400] Sio Koulissi.
[05:46.400 -> 05:47.240] Thank you so much.
[05:47.240 -> 05:48.060] Thank you to both of you.
[05:48.060 -> 05:52.320] What an honour and a privilege to be chatting to you guys.
[05:52.320 -> 05:53.800] Well, listen, the honour and the privilege
[05:53.800 -> 05:54.640] is all ours, Sia.
[05:54.640 -> 05:57.160] So let's start as we always do.
[05:57.160 -> 06:00.560] In your mind, what is high performance?
[06:01.440 -> 06:04.680] To me, it's basically performing
[06:04.680 -> 06:09.000] like at the highest level of consistency and continuity,
[06:09.000 -> 06:12.000] not only physically but mentally as well.
[06:12.000 -> 06:15.000] For me, the mental part is the most important part.
[06:15.000 -> 06:19.000] I think if your mind is not in it, you will never get anywhere.
[06:19.000 -> 06:24.000] Sia, I asked a mutual friend of ours to describe you to me,
[06:24.000 -> 06:25.400] and he said that your greatest quality is that you treat everybody the same, Gofyn i ffrind cyfridol o'n i'n gysylltu â chi i mi, ac mae'n dweud ei bod eich
[06:25.400 -> 06:28.560] gwybodaeth mwyaf yw eich bod chi'n ymdrechu pawb yn yr un peth, oherwydd yw'n
[06:28.560 -> 06:30.960] ddysgu, oherwydd yw'n ddysgwyr.
[06:30.960 -> 06:35.160] Mae'n dweud y gwybodaeth mwyaf yw'r cyd-dreth
[06:35.160 -> 06:37.160] a'r ffordd y mae'n ymdrechu nhw.
[06:37.160 -> 06:39.360] Yn ffath, mae'n gweithio'n gwirionedd i'w gysylltu â chi.
[06:39.360 -> 06:42.560] Mae'n dweud y byddwch chi'n y gwagor mwyaf y byddwch chi wedi'i gwrthod mewn
[06:42.560 -> 06:43.560] ei bywyd.
[06:43.560 -> 06:45.920] Felly rwy'n ddiddorol iawn. Pa gwybodaethau y byddwch chi'n edrych arno mewn bobl i ddechrau a ydynt the best hugger that he'd ever met in his life. So I'm really interested, what qualities
[06:45.920 -> 06:50.520] do you look for in people to decide whether they're good people and whether they're
[06:50.520 -> 06:52.200] somebody that you can help or not?
[06:52.200 -> 06:58.720] I think it's the way they treat me and how they treat the people with the restaurant,
[06:58.720 -> 07:04.840] the waiters, the waitresses. That's so important, I think a lot of people kind of forget the
[07:04.840 -> 07:06.500] simple like manners, you know, and that's what I was taught think a lot of people kind of forget the simple manners, you know.
[07:06.500 -> 07:09.500] And that's what I was taught from a young age and I still have that.
[07:09.500 -> 07:11.000] That's what I still carry with me.
[07:11.000 -> 07:13.500] Everything else disappears, I still take that with me.
[07:13.500 -> 07:17.500] What I learned at school, getting up when an elderly walk in the room,
[07:17.500 -> 07:20.500] morning ma'am, morning sir, and all those kind of things.
[07:20.500 -> 07:23.500] And I treat people the way that I would want them to treat me.
[07:23.500 -> 07:28.160] And that's what I speak, like what we my at our foundation with my wife and the team
[07:28.160 -> 07:33.680] the way we help people during COVID I think of myself like this if I didn't
[07:33.680 -> 07:36.600] make it in rugby I would have been one of those people that were receiving the
[07:36.600 -> 07:41.800] packages or whatever the donations were and I always tell my team I want us to
[07:41.800 -> 07:45.440] help people the way I would want to I would have wanted to be helped as well and it's the same as my kids I treat people the way, I want us to help people the way I would have wanted to be helped as well.
[07:45.440 -> 07:52.440] And it's the same as my kids. I treat people the way that I want my kids to see and they can, whatever I do, they must be able to do that as well.
[07:52.440 -> 07:57.560] So I put that, that's the kind of thing. And I want people to always feel important when they see me.
[07:57.560 -> 08:01.760] And sometimes I fail at it, you know. Sometimes it gets a lot, and I won't lie, I'm not perfect.
[08:01.760 -> 08:08.080] It gets a lot, people want a photo there, I've had a long day on with my family and sometimes I like I can't deal with
[08:08.080 -> 08:11.680] it because it hits me when I've treat someone badly because I've been a fan
[08:11.680 -> 08:16.500] too of someone you know and if they say no to me it hurts me a lot I always go
[08:16.500 -> 08:21.160] bad so I always try and make everybody feel special my teammates know when
[08:21.160 -> 08:24.720] they come in I hug and they're stormers now I'm hugging them when they walk in
[08:24.720 -> 08:26.320] because I don't know what they've been through I don't know when they come in, I hug them. There's still almost now, I'm hugging them when they walk in because I don't know what they've been through.
[08:26.320 -> 08:28.160] I don't know whether they need that hug a lot.
[08:28.160 -> 08:30.960] And sometimes I need that hug and I give it to a person.
[08:30.960 -> 08:33.360] I want people to feel that they connect with you.
[08:33.360 -> 08:34.960] It can't just end with work.
[08:34.960 -> 08:35.840] And that's about it.
[08:35.840 -> 08:37.760] Because some people need this kind of stuff.
[08:37.760 -> 08:39.200] And where I'm from, you know,
[08:39.200 -> 08:41.360] we don't speak about emotions when I was young.
[08:41.360 -> 08:43.200] I never heard my cinema dad cry.
[08:43.200 -> 08:46.000] The only time I see him cry was when he was fighting someone
[08:46.000 -> 08:48.000] It was violence, all those kind of things
[08:48.000 -> 08:53.000] Now I want to change that narrative, I don't want to be living in that world as men, just hardcore
[08:53.000 -> 08:57.000] All we do is get money, bring money home, buy food and that's about it
[08:57.000 -> 09:01.000] We don't cry, we drink and we do all those kind of things, the women do this
[09:01.000 -> 09:05.400] I'm trying to change the narrative that I grew up in because the world is different now
[09:05.400 -> 09:07.280] because women work nowadays,
[09:07.280 -> 09:09.840] women bring money home and all that kind of stuff.
[09:09.840 -> 09:12.080] And men must also be vulnerable.
[09:12.080 -> 09:14.360] Men must cry, men must hug each other
[09:14.360 -> 09:16.520] and tell each other they love each other.
[09:16.520 -> 09:19.920] It's stuff that I grew up and I didn't get when I was young
[09:19.920 -> 09:22.840] and I'm trying to make it normal now for other people
[09:22.840 -> 09:24.800] so they don't suffer like I did.
[09:24.800 -> 09:29.600] So how often in the changing rooms, whether it's at your club or with the Springboks,
[09:29.600 -> 09:36.500] do you talk to your teammates and your coaches about emotion, vulnerability, mental struggles?
[09:36.500 -> 09:40.100] Because these are the things that in professional sport were not on the agenda,
[09:40.100 -> 09:41.800] even just one decade ago.
[09:41.800 -> 09:46.400] I've only started like coming out really now since after the World Cup,
[09:46.400 -> 09:48.720] especially like with gender-based violence,
[09:48.720 -> 09:52.160] because I believe a whole lot of that starts with men not being,
[09:52.160 -> 09:54.080] not having a vulnerable place,
[09:54.080 -> 09:58.240] men talking to one another and not having like an argument,
[09:58.240 -> 10:01.360] and it always ends up in a fight if we don't agree on something.
[10:01.360 -> 10:04.880] And my mother and my aunt were victims of gender-based violence,
[10:05.780 -> 10:07.340] and my wife knows that.
[10:07.340 -> 10:09.220] So she's been encouraging me, you have to speak up
[10:09.220 -> 10:10.620] because men don't really speak up
[10:10.620 -> 10:12.060] about gender-based violence.
[10:12.060 -> 10:13.820] Most men say it's a woman's problem,
[10:13.820 -> 10:15.780] but it's not, we are the perpetrators,
[10:15.780 -> 10:17.100] we are the problem here.
[10:17.100 -> 10:19.420] And we have to stand up and call each other out.
[10:19.420 -> 10:22.140] And especially us men that I've seen so much
[10:22.140 -> 10:23.900] who are playing rugby and everything like that.
[10:23.900 -> 10:28.000] So I started speaking now, because with my voice, it carries a lot of weight
[10:28.000 -> 10:32.000] for especially young people, you know, and people around the world.
[10:32.000 -> 10:34.000] And I want to make sure that I don't waste it.
[10:34.000 -> 10:38.000] I use it for those who don't have a voice or those who are not heard.
[10:38.000 -> 10:41.000] And some people might listen to me more than someone else.
[10:41.000 -> 10:42.000] So I start using it.
[10:42.000 -> 10:45.400] And now we talk in our team, you know,
[10:45.400 -> 10:47.640] about a lot of this stuff, the Stormers,
[10:47.640 -> 10:49.600] you know, we're gonna be able to play at international level.
[10:49.600 -> 10:51.740] And it's very important, like,
[10:51.740 -> 10:54.000] just talking, like, to my teammate,
[10:54.000 -> 10:55.800] I have my teammate called Chris Fonseo.
[10:55.800 -> 10:58.120] We sat around the fire the other day.
[10:58.120 -> 10:59.400] I've known him for so many years,
[10:59.400 -> 11:01.560] but we had a conversation at that fire
[11:01.560 -> 11:03.020] that brought us so much closer.
[11:03.020 -> 11:10.600] We spoke about deeper stuff, my family, what we're having right now, what I play for, what my motivation is, and what
[11:10.600 -> 11:14.600] hurts me and what I don't like, you know. It made me feel so good, it made me feel so
[11:14.600 -> 11:19.280] much closer to him. And now, I'll do anything to play for that guy, because I know what
[11:19.280 -> 11:23.280] he stands for and he knows what I stand for, you know. And I think that's some stuff that
[11:23.280 -> 11:25.280] we're missing as men,
[11:25.280 -> 11:26.560] you know, those kinds of conversations,
[11:26.560 -> 11:29.040] especially in the sporting environment.
[11:29.040 -> 11:32.080] In that very macho sports environment
[11:32.080 -> 11:35.240] at the Stormers and with the Springboks, Sensia,
[11:35.240 -> 11:38.120] what do you see are the benefits to the team's performance
[11:38.120 -> 11:40.160] by you being more vulnerable
[11:40.160 -> 11:43.000] and more open about your emotions?
[11:43.000 -> 11:47.280] I honestly think if I get to know you as my teammate,
[11:47.280 -> 11:49.400] far beyond the rugby field,
[11:49.400 -> 11:51.680] what you stand for, what drives you,
[11:51.680 -> 11:53.760] you know, some maybe your struggles,
[11:53.760 -> 11:56.240] you know, things that have hurt you,
[11:56.240 -> 11:58.560] like it draws me closer, you know,
[11:58.560 -> 12:01.800] then you understand the person himself,
[12:01.800 -> 12:03.040] you understand, not the sportsman,
[12:03.040 -> 12:05.200] you understand the person, why you're doing it.
[12:05.200 -> 12:07.200] Because there's always a why on what you're doing.
[12:07.200 -> 12:12.800] You don't just play to play. Some people play for money, but there's always something far deeper than that.
[12:12.800 -> 12:17.600] And for me, the more I know of you, the more I want to go out there and fight for you.
[12:17.600 -> 12:23.800] But I will still perform to my best, even if I don't know you, because you're obviously performing for your country and for your team.
[12:23.800 -> 12:25.000] You get paid to do this. But I'll get up at 3 o'clock in the morning if you call me you because you're obviously profaning for your country and for your team, you get paid to do this.
[12:25.000 -> 12:29.000] But I'll get up at 3 o'clock in the morning if you call me and say you're in trouble.
[12:29.000 -> 12:32.000] It goes so much deeper than that and it brings you so much closer.
[12:32.000 -> 12:34.000] And that's what I found out with my teammates.
[12:34.000 -> 12:37.000] Now myself and Chris, I'll call him at any time.
[12:37.000 -> 12:41.000] I think about him, I miss him a lot. I wonder how he's doing, how's his family going.
[12:41.000 -> 12:43.000] That makes it so much bigger than just on the field.
[12:43.000 -> 12:47.720] Because sometimes you play with an amazing team and you never talk to each
[12:47.720 -> 12:49.200] other again after you won something.
[12:49.200 -> 12:50.200] And I don't like that.
[12:50.200 -> 12:55.240] You know, I want that relationship, you know, to make sure that it's not just
[12:55.240 -> 12:56.480] what's happening on the field.
[12:56.480 -> 12:58.680] There's so much more in life.
[12:58.680 -> 13:01.680] And you exist in a world of fine margins, Sia.
[13:01.680 -> 13:08.200] So, let's say in the World Cup final against England, two very evenly matched teams going toe to toe.
[13:08.200 -> 13:11.320] Do you think that one of the reasons why you won that
[13:11.320 -> 13:13.360] and you have been a successful player
[13:13.360 -> 13:15.880] is because you've created that relationship
[13:15.880 -> 13:17.920] with your teammates that's more than just about rugby?
[13:17.920 -> 13:19.800] So that when you're really up against it,
[13:19.800 -> 13:21.480] when your back is against the wall,
[13:21.480 -> 13:24.040] when your face is covered in mud and you're tired,
[13:24.040 -> 13:25.440] you're pulling each other along,
[13:25.440 -> 13:27.480] you're a genuine band of brothers.
[13:27.480 -> 13:31.400] Yeah, I mean, did you watch the documentary?
[13:31.400 -> 13:32.240] Yeah.
[13:32.240 -> 13:35.440] Did you see how our coach knows us?
[13:35.440 -> 13:36.280] Yeah, yeah, yeah.
[13:36.280 -> 13:38.520] That is what gets me going.
[13:38.520 -> 13:39.800] When you speak to me,
[13:39.800 -> 13:42.040] you don't speak to the CR, the rugby player,
[13:42.040 -> 13:46.240] he speaks to me, to my soul, to what I stand for, what
[13:46.240 -> 13:50.500] means so much to me. He knows what I play for. I play for the kid in the township so
[13:50.500 -> 13:54.840] that I can change. And the stuff that was happening in our country with the gender-based
[13:54.840 -> 14:00.180] violence, there were people dying, like, it was crazy. And he's reminding us that this
[14:00.180 -> 14:05.640] is what the country that we come from. But all of these struggles and problems
[14:05.640 -> 14:06.720] make us so much stronger.
[14:06.720 -> 14:08.920] And we are not under pressure.
[14:08.920 -> 14:12.120] We are actually privileged because we are playing.
[14:12.120 -> 14:14.080] What we produce on that field
[14:14.080 -> 14:16.000] can put a smile on someone's face.
[14:16.000 -> 14:18.120] It can change the whole country's mood.
[14:18.120 -> 14:19.680] If you think you're under pressure now,
[14:19.680 -> 14:22.080] think about where you come from,
[14:22.080 -> 14:23.600] how you didn't have food.
[14:23.600 -> 14:25.040] It's only 80 minutes.
[14:25.040 -> 14:28.240] You can change the narrative for the next kid
[14:28.240 -> 14:29.920] who is in the same situation as you,
[14:29.920 -> 14:31.380] but by you winning this,
[14:31.380 -> 14:34.280] you can get all these people working with you
[14:34.280 -> 14:36.760] and you can go back and change the narrative
[14:36.760 -> 14:37.840] for the next couple of kids.
[14:37.840 -> 14:41.640] So when he started speaking like that in that final game,
[14:41.640 -> 14:46.160] it became personal because for me personally, for what I was playing for,
[14:46.160 -> 14:48.400] and then for us as a team, we were playing for South Africa,
[14:48.400 -> 14:49.760] it wasn't about us anymore.
[14:49.760 -> 14:51.120] It was about the country itself,
[14:51.120 -> 14:52.560] the whole mood of the country,
[14:52.560 -> 14:54.400] what could this win do for us?
[14:54.400 -> 14:56.240] And when you had finished talking,
[14:57.360 -> 14:59.520] I wasn't even thinking about losing then.
[14:59.520 -> 15:01.200] To me, it was game over.
[15:01.200 -> 15:03.280] So during domestic games,
[15:03.280 -> 15:06.440] this is one of the great paradoxes that I observe
[15:06.440 -> 15:07.600] when I watch you, Sia,
[15:07.600 -> 15:11.040] that I know that you're humble and kind and decent,
[15:11.040 -> 15:12.800] and yet when you step onto that field,
[15:12.800 -> 15:14.880] you're almost a different person.
[15:14.880 -> 15:17.440] You know, you have this controlled aggression
[15:17.440 -> 15:19.920] or an anger that seems to drive you.
[15:20.880 -> 15:23.280] How do you channel that on a weekly basis
[15:23.280 -> 15:27.800] when you are there playing for the Stormers, and then obviously when you're playing international rugby for the
[15:27.800 -> 15:33.600] Springboks? It's hard like I said I grew up around a lot of violence and I
[15:33.600 -> 15:39.480] really don't like violence anymore. My wife always tells me she wonders what
[15:39.480 -> 15:43.560] would happen if someone had to break in the house. I tell her because she's like
[15:43.560 -> 15:45.880] I'm too chilled like she doesn she doesn't know, you know.
[15:45.880 -> 15:48.120] I used to fight a lot when I was young.
[15:48.120 -> 15:51.080] Every weekend, when I, because I stayed in boarding school.
[15:51.080 -> 15:53.600] And whenever I go back to the township, I'll go out,
[15:53.600 -> 15:55.600] you know, some of the guys challenge you,
[15:55.600 -> 15:57.560] you have to prove yourself that you haven't changed,
[15:57.560 -> 15:59.080] you're not soft anymore.
[15:59.080 -> 16:00.440] So I'll get into a lot of fights
[16:00.440 -> 16:02.560] and I would see violence at home between my dad
[16:02.560 -> 16:05.000] and my uncle
[16:05.000 -> 16:08.000] and then someone hitting my aunt or my mum.
[16:08.000 -> 16:12.000] And shouting and screaming doesn't really work with me
[16:12.000 -> 16:15.000] because it just brings back a lot of all those memories,
[16:15.000 -> 16:17.000] all the stuff that I used to see.
[16:17.000 -> 16:20.000] And now I've become more chilled, so when I get on the field,
[16:20.000 -> 16:22.000] I'm not playing to hurt someone else.
[16:22.000 -> 16:24.000] I'm just playing, I'm giving my best.
[16:24.000 -> 16:27.280] I want to hit you as hard as I can with the shoulder,
[16:27.280 -> 16:30.120] like in the right places because I respect you
[16:30.120 -> 16:31.240] because I prepare for you.
[16:31.240 -> 16:32.680] And I wanna give my best for you.
[16:32.680 -> 16:35.720] And as soon as the whistle is blown and it's over,
[16:35.720 -> 16:37.080] then after that I'm done, you know,
[16:37.080 -> 16:38.960] I'm smiling, I'm greeting the guys.
[16:38.960 -> 16:40.880] You know, I kind of control it that way,
[16:40.880 -> 16:42.560] but obviously I make it personal.
[16:42.560 -> 16:44.280] I don't want the opposite number
[16:44.280 -> 16:45.600] to dominate me in the game,
[16:45.600 -> 16:49.360] you know, so I always prepare and give my best to the field,
[16:49.360 -> 16:51.440] but I make sure that it's as clean as possible.
[16:51.440 -> 16:53.840] I never go in and try and hit someone's knee
[16:53.840 -> 16:54.920] so he doesn't play again.
[16:54.920 -> 16:58.080] So I make sure like when I'm thinking and I'm playing,
[16:58.080 -> 17:01.960] like that, whatever I do, I make like the other guy,
[17:01.960 -> 17:04.480] I want to do something to someone that they would do to me.
[17:04.480 -> 17:08.800] Like, I don't want someone to come and try and hurt me all day long so I don't play again.
[17:09.040 -> 17:12.120] So how, Sia, do you protect what you've created?
[17:12.120 -> 17:18.640] Because Sia Khaleesi, captain of the Springboks, runs an amazing foundation.
[17:18.720 -> 17:19.640] That's all wonderful.
[17:19.640 -> 17:28.940] But what if the teammates that are around you are not putting in the required effort to allow you to win? What if the coach isn't coaching you in a way that means
[17:28.940 -> 17:31.960] you can be the best captain you can be? What if your colleagues at your
[17:31.960 -> 17:36.480] foundation are not caring in the way that you do? You have to find a way to
[17:36.480 -> 17:40.640] protect what you've created. So I'm interested. It's all been very kind and
[17:40.640 -> 17:44.800] friendly and positive so far. What's Sio Kulisi like with people that don't
[17:44.800 -> 17:45.200] come up to the
[17:45.200 -> 17:51.680] standard that he requires? To be honest, I haven't been in a situation like that because the people
[17:51.680 -> 17:59.360] that I have around me and the people that mentor me and guide me are all basically in the same
[17:59.360 -> 18:05.520] mindset as I'm in, especially the people in the foundation, they all, they don't get paid, man.
[18:05.520 -> 18:08.800] They all volunteer to work with the foundation.
[18:08.800 -> 18:13.680] So we have gotten to a place where that has been tested.
[18:13.680 -> 18:18.480] And obviously my teammates, whoever I want to play with, we all want to be successful, you know.
[18:18.480 -> 18:21.440] And I've always been fortunate enough to have coaches around me.
[18:21.440 -> 18:24.560] Every teammate you've ever played with has come up to your standards, huh?
[18:25.240 -> 18:26.720] That's quite remarkable.
[18:26.720 -> 18:29.760] No, I'm saying I've been poor at times.
[18:29.760 -> 18:34.400] I mean, I've had my seasons where I've been horrible, you know, and
[18:34.400 -> 18:36.840] and yeah, you get that's how it is in South Africa.
[18:36.840 -> 18:37.520] That's what I've realised.
[18:37.520 -> 18:40.960] You get trapped if you don't perform to your standard.
[18:40.960 -> 18:44.360] But you only what you can do, you just motivate one another
[18:44.360 -> 18:46.920] because I've been there. I know what it feels like not to get chosen.
[18:46.920 -> 18:49.240] I know what it feels like to have a horrible season.
[18:49.240 -> 18:54.520] It's all about making sure that you, to yourself, do what you need to do.
[18:54.520 -> 18:56.080] You always have to look at yourself.
[18:56.080 -> 18:58.120] Are you giving your best? That's the most important thing.
[18:58.120 -> 19:00.800] I can't control what everybody else does, you know.
[19:00.800 -> 19:04.240] But I know I can only lead when I'm doing my best on the field.
[19:04.240 -> 19:09.000] I don't like talking a lot. A lot of people think I have these inspirational speeches and stuff.
[19:09.000 -> 19:14.000] I prefer playing as hard as I can. And I can't control what my teammate does,
[19:14.000 -> 19:17.000] but I can control what I say to him and how I treat him.
[19:17.000 -> 19:21.000] But what he produces on the field, sometimes he's just having a horrible season.
[19:21.000 -> 19:24.000] There's nothing you can do about that. Everybody goes through that.
[19:24.000 -> 19:25.040] But that's why when you have good and strong coaches around, horrible season. There's nothing you can do about that. Everybody goes through that.
[19:25.040 -> 19:29.200] But that's why when you have good and strong coaches around, they'll realise that and they'll
[19:29.200 -> 19:34.000] see what they can do with the players. But you are right, I have been with coaches who
[19:34.000 -> 19:38.360] don't see eye to eye with me and who doesn't like the way I work. What can I do with that?
[19:38.360 -> 19:43.120] Then I just, I try and be my best in what I do and that's all I can do. I try and control
[19:43.120 -> 19:45.480] what I can control. It's just be at my best.
[19:45.480 -> 19:47.320] And sometimes, yeah, it doesn't work.
[19:47.320 -> 19:51.160] I get dropped and I sit on the touchline.
[19:51.160 -> 19:55.040] I almost gave up the one time in the previous World Cup.
[19:55.040 -> 19:56.320] I never got to play.
[19:56.320 -> 19:57.240] It was tough for me.
[19:57.240 -> 19:58.160] I never got chosen.
[19:58.160 -> 20:00.800] I played like my first game, I got my first cap.
[20:00.800 -> 20:03.480] I got many of the match and then I was on the bench for the rest.
[20:03.480 -> 20:07.600] I never played again in that year. How do you deal with that Sia do you internalize it are
[20:07.600 -> 20:11.800] there certain people that you speak to? Yeah now there are that time there wasn't
[20:11.800 -> 20:16.080] there was like I just like I didn't know what to do I was like this is like what
[20:16.080 -> 20:20.720] can I do like I had to keep on working and then I started looking for contracts
[20:20.720 -> 20:25.760] elsewhere in the world and then yeah I decided to stay you know and
[20:25.760 -> 20:29.680] then I stayed I pushed and then I started getting more opportunities after that.
[20:29.680 -> 20:35.280] So you mentioned that there's a perception of you as a captain that you're often expected to be able
[20:35.280 -> 20:42.080] to deliver inspirational speeches and going around motivating people but instead I observed that you
[20:42.080 -> 20:48.000] seem to be a quiet leader for example I've heard you speak about that occasion when you were playing Ond yn ystod hyn, rwy'n gweld eich bod chi'n edrych fel leader ymddi. Er enghraifft, rwyf wedi clywed eich bod chi'n siarad am y cyfle pan oeddech chi'n chwarae yng Nghymru
[20:48.000 -> 20:53.000] a chafodd eich hun ffynediad 20 pwynt o lawr, ac eich bod chi'n adnabod eich bod chi ddim yn gwybod beth i'w wneud yma.
[20:53.000 -> 20:59.000] Ac felly yn ystod hyn, rydych chi'n mynd a'ch sgwrs â nifer o'ch cymdeithaswyr a gofyn iddyn nhw siarad â'r grwp yn ystod.
[20:59.000 -> 21:02.000] Nawr, i mi, dyma'n cymryd goredd gwirioneddol.
[21:02.000 -> 21:05.320] Ond a allech chi ddweud ychydig mwy am y peth yma, Now that to me took real courage, but would you tell us a little bit more about that particular incident
[21:05.320 -> 21:07.160] and also about the benefits
[21:07.160 -> 21:10.400] of your more quieter leadership style?
[21:10.400 -> 21:14.840] I think what I like about my leadership or about me,
[21:14.840 -> 21:18.040] it's not actually my leadership, that's just who I am.
[21:18.040 -> 21:20.120] I know what I don't know, you know,
[21:20.120 -> 21:22.800] and I know what others around me have
[21:22.800 -> 21:26.480] and I make sure I make full use of the people around me.
[21:26.480 -> 21:28.320] You can't be everything at all times.
[21:28.320 -> 21:30.640] I don't speak half of the time, and I'm quiet,
[21:30.640 -> 21:32.920] because we have different leaders in our group,
[21:32.920 -> 21:35.600] and sometimes you don't appeal to everyone.
[21:35.600 -> 21:36.840] Like a different group of people
[21:36.840 -> 21:39.240] maybe responds more to this person.
[21:39.240 -> 21:41.320] Let them be that, and that's how I broke,
[21:41.320 -> 21:42.560] because I'm secure in myself.
[21:42.560 -> 21:44.520] I know who I am, and what I stand for,
[21:44.520 -> 21:45.600] and what type of leader I am.
[21:45.600 -> 21:49.600] And I know my strong points too. Some guys know the game far more than me.
[21:49.600 -> 21:53.000] Like a guy like Andre, he knows the game, he runs the game.
[21:53.000 -> 21:57.000] And I was comfortable with that and I'll go to him like, dude, I don't know what to do.
[21:57.000 -> 21:59.400] What do you think we should do here? He's like, don't worry, I got it.
[21:59.400 -> 22:03.200] And that's what happened against England. It was my first time being captain for the Springboks team.
[22:03.200 -> 22:07.200] And how I imagined is that we're going to come there and just destroy England and then
[22:07.200 -> 22:11.680] England came in and started destroying us the first couple of minutes and I freaked
[22:11.680 -> 22:12.680] out man.
[22:12.680 -> 22:16.600] I just stood there and said, Dwayne, you speak, I don't know what to say anymore because I
[22:16.600 -> 22:19.520] didn't want to act all strong and bold and hard.
[22:19.520 -> 22:24.440] I'm like, no, actually I might even spoil this and my teammates will never respect me
[22:24.440 -> 22:30.720] again. We had different players, we were in charge of different things and that's what we used and I wasn't scared of that and I wasn't
[22:30.720 -> 22:34.240] I never felt oh, no, why am I not speaking? I'm not speaking up
[22:34.240 -> 22:35.760] No, I never forgot it's not about me
[22:35.760 -> 22:41.440] The most important thing is the team and you must know what kind of leaders you have around you make full use of them
[22:41.440 -> 22:44.200] Make sure they work with you don't work against them at all
[22:44.000 -> 22:48.120] you make full use of them make sure they work with you don't work against them at all. So what I find fascinating is that I know there was real criticism in the
[22:48.120 -> 22:52.900] media about that afterwards when commentators started saying well who is
[22:52.900 -> 22:58.560] going to be the captain within this team so how did you deal with that?
[22:58.560 -> 23:02.560] You must always remember there's always be people criticizing and all that kind of
[23:02.560 -> 23:08.080] stuff but I know what's happening I don't care what everybody else thinks from the outside if my teammates know
[23:08.080 -> 23:11.280] what's happening my coach knows what's happening why who should I impress on the
[23:11.280 -> 23:15.840] outside I wanted to comment because I remember there's one time they were
[23:15.840 -> 23:21.880] playing Wales and and Dwayne got the mic on the ear and then that's why people
[23:21.880 -> 23:27.200] started saying okay this guy's a real captain but they didn't see that after that Dwayne went off because he couldn't go
[23:27.200 -> 23:30.360] on anymore that's what they were checking can you go on but I do get
[23:30.360 -> 23:35.660] irritated because some people use that to start dividing the team or dividing
[23:35.660 -> 23:40.560] things but luckily our coach is so on point that he was like why should you
[23:40.560 -> 23:44.420] listen to that focus here and then we just focus on that and they always fell
[23:44.420 -> 23:46.720] away all the people that criticized,
[23:46.720 -> 23:48.520] they just get tired and fall away anyway.
[23:48.520 -> 23:50.200] And we kept on moving forward.
[23:50.200 -> 23:51.640] And has that been a process, Sia,
[23:51.640 -> 23:55.080] to get to a point where you don't give credit
[23:55.080 -> 23:58.360] to other people's external opinions or validation of you?
[23:58.360 -> 24:01.280] Because I think we live in a world now with social media,
[24:01.280 -> 24:04.680] 24-hour rolling news, there's critics everywhere.
[24:04.680 -> 24:08.360] All of us seem to now be lured into caring
[24:08.360 -> 24:09.400] what other people think.
[24:09.400 -> 24:12.640] How did you get to a place where you're strong enough
[24:12.640 -> 24:13.920] not to worry about that?
[24:13.920 -> 24:16.560] It's the people I have around me, to be quite honest.
[24:16.560 -> 24:18.040] Because I used to, I was one of those people
[24:18.040 -> 24:21.240] that I'll know if I played well or not
[24:21.240 -> 24:24.640] by reading the comments on Twitter and Instagram
[24:24.640 -> 24:26.040] and all of that.
[24:26.040 -> 24:29.800] And then like the coaches will tell you, the only people you have to impress is me and
[24:29.800 -> 24:30.800] your teammates.
[24:30.800 -> 24:32.900] That's the only people's respect that you need to gain.
[24:32.900 -> 24:34.640] And then you start fading away.
[24:34.640 -> 24:40.380] And then I started, I went off social, Twitter, you know, I went off social media.
[24:40.380 -> 24:43.700] And then I started just focusing on what my teammates were saying around me.
[24:43.700 -> 24:45.480] And then you'll have someone tell you played horrible
[24:45.480 -> 24:49.120] Then you think you play horrible then I go watch the game on actually I played well
[24:49.360 -> 24:52.900] Look at all the things that I had to do because sometimes your role is different
[24:52.900 -> 24:54.860] You know I used to run a lot to the ball
[24:54.860 -> 24:59.420] Then my role changed then I had to chase I had to tackle I have to do this kind of stuff
[24:59.420 -> 25:02.060] Other people don't see that but my coach sees it
[25:02.060 -> 25:06.880] You know that's one of the thing that the coach told us. The biggest, the quickest that you must listen to
[25:06.880 -> 25:07.720] are right here.
[25:07.720 -> 25:09.960] You are the best people in the country
[25:09.960 -> 25:12.360] that are here to represent the country right now.
[25:12.360 -> 25:14.920] Why should you listen to someone who's just sitting at home?
[25:14.920 -> 25:15.760] It's not easy though.
[25:15.760 -> 25:17.520] So do you go on social media now?
[25:17.520 -> 25:19.800] And if you do, do you find it affects you negatively
[25:19.800 -> 25:21.080] or do you avoid it?
[25:21.080 -> 25:23.160] I try not to read, but I do read.
[25:23.160 -> 25:24.760] Sometimes it does.
[25:24.760 -> 25:25.300] It depends on what it is, you know, on the game. I know when I've played to read but I do read sometimes it does it depends on
[25:25.300 -> 25:28.780] what it is you know on the game I know when I played all when I'm when I played
[25:28.780 -> 25:32.420] badly so I don't need somebody to tell me so I don't really care much about
[25:32.420 -> 25:37.340] that but I don't go too much on it especially when it's about rugby I stay
[25:37.340 -> 25:42.620] away you know I normally focus mostly on the social issues happening
[25:42.620 -> 25:45.760] happening around because there's so there's so much more important things
[25:45.760 -> 25:50.160] than what you do on the field. You know, there's people dying each and every day. There's,
[25:50.160 -> 25:55.360] you know, there's hungry people, there's people who don't have water. And I'm like, if I give
[25:55.360 -> 25:59.800] my best at training and I give my best on the game and it doesn't go my way, hey, maybe
[25:59.800 -> 26:00.800] it's not my day.
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[27:37.140 -> 27:41.720] The foundation work that you do, Sia, is incredible and the way that you're
[27:41.720 -> 27:49.680] speaking out about gender-based violence is also just equally powerful. But how do you deal with those people that are
[27:49.680 -> 27:54.280] uncomfortable with you being a rugby player who is choosing to step outside
[27:54.280 -> 27:58.280] of your role and challenge these bigger societal issues?
[27:58.280 -> 28:02.920] Yeah I've heard it so much over and over. Remember you're a human being before
[28:02.920 -> 28:07.480] anything else. All of these issues are all,
[28:07.480 -> 28:09.440] those are crimes against humanity.
[28:09.440 -> 28:11.080] People should have water.
[28:11.080 -> 28:13.600] People shouldn't be raped in the street.
[28:13.600 -> 28:15.840] People shouldn't lose their children.
[28:15.840 -> 28:16.660] I'm a father.
[28:16.660 -> 28:18.040] I don't want that to happen.
[28:18.040 -> 28:20.560] I've got people that I care about.
[28:20.560 -> 28:22.760] I don't have to wait for them to be heard
[28:22.760 -> 28:24.200] before I start speaking.
[28:24.200 -> 28:29.200] I've got a voice, I've got a platform, and I gotta use it for good. Not just for me. That's a that's another thing
[28:29.200 -> 28:32.580] Your platform is not it's not mine people gave me this platform
[28:32.580 -> 28:38.280] I know I worked as hard as I could but without people supporting me and I've got to be the voice for the people as well
[28:38.280 -> 28:42.260] When they need me, I'm not just a sportsman. I'm far more than that rubbish
[28:42.260 -> 28:50.280] I can be more than a sportsman. You can't bottle me on put me in in a small pocket like that. That's not how life is, you know
[28:50.280 -> 28:52.400] And I think I've seen so many
[28:53.360 -> 28:59.400] Sportsmen who've been able to do like so much and like what Marcus Rashford is doing in England
[29:00.040 -> 29:04.740] That's what I respect him more than this because there will be better soccer players than that
[29:04.740 -> 29:05.240] He will be but to players than he will be
[29:05.240 -> 29:08.760] But to me he will remain in my heart. I'll remain thinking about it
[29:08.760 -> 29:12.820] I'll never forget what he's done because he's spoken to my story
[29:13.040 -> 29:19.080] When I was a kid when I wished I had someone like that and that's what the person that I want to be you can forget
[29:19.380 -> 29:24.840] Everything I achieved on the field because someone else will come and break all those records someone else will be the next
[29:23.560 -> 29:23.760] achieved on the field because someone else will come and break all those records.
[29:28.040 -> 29:28.240] Someone else will be the next captain to to to to lift the trophy.
[29:33.000 -> 29:35.320] But the work that you do, then the life that you touch will remain for the end of time because that person that you touch will touch someone else.
[29:35.480 -> 29:36.520] Then you touch someone else.
[29:36.520 -> 29:37.800] And that's how you change the world.
[29:37.920 -> 29:39.840] And that's how you change what's happening around.
[29:40.040 -> 29:44.160] Always speak a message of unity instead of division, because a lot of people are
[29:44.360 -> 29:45.920] trying to divide in our country
[29:45.920 -> 29:48.080] There's a lot of different social issues, you know
[29:48.320 -> 29:53.120] But people make us fight against each other because we're fighting for so different social issue, but we're not the enemy
[29:53.440 -> 29:57.600] The people in power this thing that we're challenging and hopefully one day
[29:58.160 -> 30:03.200] When all these issues have been fought that we can all maybe one day fight for the same issue, you know
[30:03.360 -> 30:05.400] When we fought for all of the others,
[30:05.400 -> 30:07.840] we can stand, because there's nothing stronger than that.
[30:07.840 -> 30:10.160] When people from different walks of life,
[30:10.160 -> 30:11.760] different backgrounds, different races
[30:11.760 -> 30:13.320] are standing together for one,
[30:13.320 -> 30:16.120] like fighting for the same thing, nothing beats that.
[30:16.120 -> 30:18.680] And a conversation is what's needed.
[30:18.680 -> 30:20.060] You need to talk to someone.
[30:20.060 -> 30:22.260] So when you lifted the Rugby World Cup
[30:22.260 -> 30:24.760] above your head in 2019, Sia,
[30:24.760 -> 30:28.280] was that important for you because it was a sporting achievement that you'd
[30:28.280 -> 30:29.520] wanted to achieve all your life?
[30:29.880 -> 30:33.280] Or was it important for you because of everything else that it represented?
[30:33.600 -> 30:38.120] I never dreamed, I never thought in a million years I would ever be there.
[30:39.160 -> 30:42.840] But what got to me the most is my wife told me this.
[30:42.840 -> 30:45.340] She says, a lot of people dream about this stuff.
[30:45.340 -> 30:49.440] You never, you never dreamt of it because you didn't have the privilege of being able
[30:49.440 -> 30:50.440] to dream like that.
[30:50.440 -> 30:53.280] A lot of people dream about it, but they don't prepare for it when it happens.
[30:53.280 -> 30:54.440] What are you going to do?
[30:54.440 -> 30:57.480] Like she said, what are we going to do when we win?
[30:57.480 -> 31:01.600] And remember the night before we wrote down the stuff that we want to do, want to start
[31:01.600 -> 31:02.600] our foundation.
[31:02.600 -> 31:05.200] These are the challenges that we want to tackle in our country.
[31:05.760 -> 31:08.080] There's only one challenge we haven't done.
[31:08.080 -> 31:13.520] We said we wanted to build a model school in the township with the boarding school.
[31:13.520 -> 31:15.360] That's one thing that we haven't done.
[31:15.360 -> 31:17.760] Everything else we wrote in that piece of paper,
[31:17.760 -> 31:21.280] because she believed that we were going to win, I also believed.
[31:21.280 -> 31:24.320] And we're able to achieve all of those things by lifting that world cup.
[31:24.320 -> 31:28.680] And I, like all this stuff that we do is not without my teammates.
[31:28.680 -> 31:30.200] There's no ways I could have achieved this.
[31:30.200 -> 31:33.440] And anything that I do, I always say, like, I thank those guys
[31:33.440 -> 31:35.680] because this is part of their work.
[31:35.680 -> 31:39.760] It's great for the sporting, but what I can do, what we can do,
[31:39.960 -> 31:43.640] the amount of work we were able to do during COVID and we started the foundation,
[31:44.240 -> 31:45.400] we just haven't formed it.
[31:45.400 -> 31:46.880] We didn't even have a name yet.
[31:46.880 -> 31:50.560] And we already were helping buying PPE,
[31:50.560 -> 31:53.680] buying food for people so we can help them stay at home
[31:53.680 -> 31:55.200] because people lost jobs.
[31:55.200 -> 31:56.840] And that touched me.
[31:56.840 -> 31:58.640] And then I could travel during the lockdown.
[31:58.640 -> 32:01.520] I traveled 16,000 kilometers around the country.
[32:01.520 -> 32:02.800] People asked me how's lockdown.
[32:02.800 -> 32:05.000] For me, it was flipping amazing from my family point of view.
[32:05.000 -> 32:11.000] Yeah, it was tough not being able to play rugby, but when I saw how people lived, people without water.
[32:11.000 -> 32:15.000] There's a picture, I remember we were driving in Limpopo and it had just rained.
[32:15.000 -> 32:20.000] And we were driving over a big puddle of water and we saw this lady with a baby on her back.
[32:20.000 -> 32:24.000] And she had buckets and she got some water from that pond.
[32:24.000 -> 32:25.360] And there were dogs
[32:25.360 -> 32:30.320] drinking from it and boys swimming from it. I asked her what's the water for and she said it's to drink
[32:30.320 -> 32:36.240] it's to cook it's to wash her clothes and to wash her body and fortunately we were there too we did
[32:36.240 -> 32:43.600] two boho's so they got water that day so yeah and I said then to myself and I'm like how can I say I
[32:43.600 -> 32:46.560] struggled I had water when I was young, you know,
[32:46.560 -> 32:48.800] and I didn't eat every now and then.
[32:48.800 -> 32:51.360] So what, there's people here who are facing
[32:51.360 -> 32:53.480] so much worse than I did.
[32:53.480 -> 32:56.880] And I said to myself, I can never be satisfied
[32:56.880 -> 32:59.760] with feeding one person or donating food somewhere
[32:59.760 -> 33:00.920] or doing this here.
[33:00.920 -> 33:01.840] There's so much more.
[33:01.840 -> 33:03.800] I must be, the people that I'm helping,
[33:03.800 -> 33:08.800] I must be telling them that when you get the opportunity, please help the next one. One of the greatest gifts that you're
[33:08.800 -> 33:13.360] giving people through your foundation, as well as all the physical help and support that you're
[33:13.360 -> 33:18.080] obviously offering, seems to be about teaching people the power of having a dream. So what
[33:18.080 -> 33:23.200] advice would you give to anybody that is facing difficult or tough times at the minutes here?
[33:23.200 -> 33:26.560] Advice relating to having that dream or the
[33:26.560 -> 33:32.000] ambition that things and life in general can be better. I'll tell you now when I was in the
[33:32.000 -> 33:37.520] township and I was when my grandma was still alive I didn't think I didn't imagine or think that I
[33:37.520 -> 33:42.880] was going to make it out of that wasn't in my mind I was living in the moment I was happy I
[33:42.880 -> 33:46.240] struggled financially I struggled I couldn't get food and all that stuff but I was rich I was living in the moment. I was happy. I struggled financially, I struggled, I couldn't get food and all that stuff,
[33:46.240 -> 33:48.040] but I was rich, I was happy.
[33:48.040 -> 33:52.280] I had love for my grandmother, I had time, I had support.
[33:52.280 -> 33:54.520] And that is all I needed at the time.
[33:54.520 -> 33:57.000] You know, when I got a meal, I got a meal, you know?
[33:57.000 -> 33:59.720] I just focused on whatever I had
[33:59.720 -> 34:02.240] and I used it as much as I could, you know?
[34:02.240 -> 34:03.800] And then when I started getting opportunity,
[34:03.800 -> 34:05.520] then I started dreaming a little bit.
[34:05.520 -> 34:07.080] And that's what I realized in that period
[34:07.080 -> 34:09.640] that I control my own happiness.
[34:09.640 -> 34:13.240] All this that I have now, I was happier when I was poor.
[34:13.240 -> 34:14.640] Obviously, I'm grateful for all of this,
[34:14.640 -> 34:18.280] makes my life better, but I was more at peace, you know,
[34:18.280 -> 34:19.320] I didn't expect much.
[34:19.320 -> 34:20.860] And I'm not saying that's a good thing,
[34:20.860 -> 34:23.680] but I actually wanna change people's lives
[34:23.680 -> 34:24.800] so that they don't live like that.
[34:24.800 -> 34:25.000] Because I believe every kid should get a good thing but I actually want to change people's lives so that they don't live like that
[34:25.000 -> 34:29.000] because I believe every kid should get a fair opportunity in life
[34:29.000 -> 34:33.000] a kid should get a fair opportunity from his own background, his own culture
[34:33.000 -> 34:37.000] that they don't have to leave and go somewhere else and learn a whole new different language
[34:37.000 -> 34:39.000] which was really hard, you know?
[34:39.000 -> 34:43.000] just have a dream, believe in it and work as hard as you can
[34:43.000 -> 34:48.640] don't let family members or anybody who couldn't achieve their dreams or live their dreams tell you
[34:48.640 -> 34:52.400] that you can't make it. You're the only person that can fight and
[34:52.400 -> 34:55.880] believe in your dream and nobody will believe in your dream more than you do.
[34:55.880 -> 34:59.840] You just gotta be willing to fight man with everything you can to make
[34:59.840 -> 35:01.760] whatever it is that you want to be.
[35:01.760 -> 35:04.760] So yeah, it's been such an inspiring 45
[35:04.760 -> 35:06.240] minutes to sit and talk like this.
[35:06.880 -> 35:10.080] We always finish our podcasts with a few quickfire questions.
[35:10.800 -> 35:13.200] So the first one is, we always ask people,
[35:13.200 -> 35:19.120] what are the three non-negotiable behaviours that people around you have to buy into?
[35:19.120 -> 35:26.800] Okay, respect, loyalty, and I would say love or kindness all in one word.
[35:26.800 -> 35:31.120] What advice would you give to a teenage seer just starting out?
[35:31.120 -> 35:36.680] I would say dream as big as you want, because it's all possible.
[35:36.680 -> 35:43.080] Obviously, what I achieved, I never talk about what it meant for my community.
[35:43.080 -> 35:45.560] I didn't understand why people were so happy
[35:45.560 -> 35:48.840] when I became captain, why it was just such a big thing.
[35:48.840 -> 35:51.000] And then one of my friends sat down with me and said,
[35:51.000 -> 35:53.200] listen, for so many years,
[35:53.200 -> 35:58.000] no kid with the same skin color or background from yours
[35:58.000 -> 35:59.920] would ever dream of something like this.
[35:59.920 -> 36:02.000] Now they have a reference point.
[36:02.000 -> 36:03.200] You are that reference point.
[36:03.200 -> 36:05.720] Now, doesn't matter who you are, where you are,
[36:05.720 -> 36:08.720] you can dream to become this.
[36:08.720 -> 36:11.600] And that's how I look at Lewis Hamilton too.
[36:11.600 -> 36:14.940] He's one of my favorite sportsmen in the whole wide world.
[36:14.940 -> 36:16.760] Like, I have so much respect for him
[36:16.760 -> 36:19.280] for what he's been able to achieve.
[36:19.280 -> 36:22.000] And the story of how his father worked for me,
[36:22.000 -> 36:23.120] that's like a dream for me.
[36:23.120 -> 36:25.720] I actually sent him a message and I told him, I said,
[36:25.720 -> 36:28.960] Louis, like that picture of you hugging your father,
[36:28.960 -> 36:33.120] it's something that a lot of young black sports or men
[36:33.120 -> 36:36.320] or girls dream about because we don't get,
[36:36.320 -> 36:38.480] like some of us don't get that opportunity
[36:38.480 -> 36:40.160] to get your father out of everyone,
[36:40.160 -> 36:41.560] believe in you so much, you know?
[36:41.560 -> 36:44.400] And we love our fathers and our mothers and everything,
[36:44.400 -> 36:45.520] but like our fathers
[36:45.520 -> 36:51.240] it's big in our communities that they're not there. Then I told him, I'm like, this is so powerful.
[36:51.760 -> 36:53.480] And I was like, you know,
[36:53.480 -> 37:00.480] you must never take that for granted because some of us would love that opportunity and I'm hoping that I'm the same example to kids.
[37:00.480 -> 37:03.600] Like being there for my kids, fighting each and every single day
[37:04.000 -> 37:05.840] to be with my family,
[37:05.840 -> 37:11.920] trying to show a good example of a black parent. Obviously I saw it a little bit in my community,
[37:11.920 -> 37:16.960] but when I started seeing how it is, like family wise, I was jealous to see my mates at school
[37:16.960 -> 37:21.360] when they come get picked up, how they kiss their parents in the cheek, they hug, they're like,
[37:21.360 -> 37:26.640] yo, that's what I do now with my kids because I don't want them to lack that or see something else.
[37:26.640 -> 37:27.880] They might see it, yeah.
[37:27.880 -> 37:30.720] What is your one golden rule
[37:30.720 -> 37:32.640] to living a high performance life?
[37:32.640 -> 37:36.240] I think the hardest thing for me is to get up in the morning.
[37:36.240 -> 37:37.720] You gotta know who you're doing it for
[37:37.720 -> 37:38.600] and why you're doing it.
[37:38.600 -> 37:40.120] And that's what gets me up.
[37:40.120 -> 37:41.280] Sometimes I don't wanna get up.
[37:41.280 -> 37:43.160] I put on snus so many times.
[37:43.160 -> 37:44.040] I miss breakfast.
[37:44.040 -> 37:46.000] Sorry, my daughter is...
[37:46.000 -> 37:48.000] I'll say hello to the uncles.
[37:48.000 -> 37:52.000] Hey Sia, now that your daughter's joined us, it's a good opportunity just to ask,
[37:52.000 -> 37:56.000] you have such resilience and such self-belief because of where you came from.
[37:56.000 -> 37:59.000] Your beautiful daughter who's sitting in your lap right now,
[37:59.000 -> 38:02.000] she is seeing a wonderful life in South Africa.
[38:02.000 -> 38:07.000] What do you do to make sure that your children understand what the world is really like
[38:07.000 -> 38:08.320] and have the resilience that you had
[38:08.320 -> 38:10.080] to go and do great things themselves?
[38:10.080 -> 38:13.040] It's actually hard to explain to them
[38:13.040 -> 38:15.400] because of how they're living right now.
[38:15.400 -> 38:18.480] It's hard to get them to understand what we had to go through.
[38:18.480 -> 38:21.080] So we take them with every now and then
[38:21.080 -> 38:22.960] to some of the work that we do
[38:22.960 -> 38:25.200] and we show them where I come from.
[38:25.200 -> 38:29.920] I take them home, I take them to my family, they can get to see how I work, but they still
[38:29.920 -> 38:38.480] don't understand. But I always tell them sharing is so important and always looking out if the
[38:38.480 -> 38:45.900] other person has or they need something to help them out and also for them to work as hard as they can
[38:46.360 -> 38:52.000] For what they want because it's not just given you know so many people don't have the opportunity that they they have
[38:52.000 -> 38:56.480] But they're so young that they just laugh at me or look at me funny when I tell them these things
[38:56.520 -> 39:00.560] But I always try and take them with me to come work and when you're packing the food
[39:00.560 -> 39:08.840] We explain to them why we're packing this food because we don't actually take them to see the people because we always want people to have the dignity. So we make
[39:08.840 -> 39:13.200] sure there's no cameras anymore when people come and pick up the food. But yeah, the older
[39:13.200 -> 39:17.440] they get, the more they will understand and they will see, they know when Dara is not
[39:17.440 -> 39:21.760] here, when daddy is not here during lockdown, he's gone and trying to help someone. They
[39:21.760 -> 39:24.760] know, they will know already by the time they get older.
[39:24.760 -> 39:27.040] Listen, Sia, thank you so much for taking the time
[39:27.040 -> 39:27.860] to talk to us.
[39:27.860 -> 39:30.320] For you to have capped in the spring box
[39:30.320 -> 39:32.640] and then lifted the Rugby World Cup as a black man,
[39:32.640 -> 39:33.560] lots of people would have gone,
[39:33.560 -> 39:36.480] do you know what, I'm done, that's what I've achieved.
[39:36.480 -> 39:38.280] What I think is incredible about your story
[39:38.280 -> 39:40.200] is that the night before you did that,
[39:40.200 -> 39:43.220] you chose to write down what you were going to achieve
[39:43.220 -> 39:46.960] after you lifted the Rugby World Cup. And it's about what you're going to do,
[39:46.960 -> 39:48.040] not what you have done.
[39:48.040 -> 39:51.600] And that's a very rare quality.
[39:51.600 -> 39:53.240] You gotta think, man,
[39:53.240 -> 39:56.600] your life is like only a certain amount of time.
[39:56.600 -> 39:58.600] And obviously you have to be successful in what you do.
[39:58.600 -> 40:00.000] You gotta give your best.
[40:00.000 -> 40:02.840] My first and foremost job is to play rugby
[40:02.840 -> 40:03.960] and play rugby well.
[40:03.960 -> 40:07.000] That's what pays for my kids' school fees and everybody else.
[40:07.000 -> 40:10.000] But that's going to end somewhere along the line.
[40:10.000 -> 40:13.000] And people will break all the records that you've broken.
[40:13.000 -> 40:15.000] People will be better than you will ever be.
[40:15.000 -> 40:18.000] There will be a new person with a new inspirational story.
[40:18.000 -> 40:21.000] What have you done in the period that you were, you had the platform,
[40:21.000 -> 40:23.000] the time that you had the audience?
[40:23.000 -> 40:27.200] That's the most... And it's not even about me. It's about how many lives we've attached
[40:27.200 -> 40:28.680] in that period of time.
[40:28.680 -> 40:31.160] And I think that's one thing I love about myself.
[40:31.160 -> 40:33.240] I don't care much about me.
[40:33.240 -> 40:34.680] It's all about the next person
[40:34.680 -> 40:36.680] because the people that looked after me,
[40:36.680 -> 40:38.880] like my grandmother would go days without eating.
[40:38.880 -> 40:40.460] She didn't care much about herself.
[40:40.460 -> 40:42.600] All she cared about is see I looked after
[40:42.600 -> 40:46.840] and that's what I've taken from her and and I was young she died in my
[40:46.840 -> 40:49.380] Arms when I was I think eight or nine years old
[40:49.380 -> 40:52.800] I mean she looked after me and she died in my arms in the kitchen
[40:52.800 -> 40:57.900] I'll never forget the day one of the saddest days ever but one of the proudest day. I'll ever remember with me because
[40:58.760 -> 41:03.900] She raised me and looked after me and she was able to like she died with me and I was able to say goodbye
[41:03.900 -> 41:07.800] To the person that changed my life and made me the person that I am
[41:07.800 -> 41:11.340] today and it was hard because I was nine and I don't think I've registered what
[41:11.340 -> 41:14.720] happened then it's something that I still need to sort out and talk about
[41:14.720 -> 41:20.440] but I find joy in that that she chose to do it with me you know and that just
[41:20.440 -> 41:27.600] made me so happy because I wish all of the what I have now, I could give to her and show to her and show her.
[41:27.600 -> 41:32.640] I know she's looking down at me like I'm sure like everything you've taught me, I'm still here, I'm still standing.
[41:32.640 -> 41:36.080] I didn't go to prison, I didn't do this. I'm alive and I'm doing well.
[41:36.080 -> 41:41.480] I'm touching other people's lives and your friends that used to help you are now being helped because of you.
[41:41.480 -> 41:45.760] Because it's her, because I'm here and obviously all the other people as well.
[41:45.760 -> 41:48.080] Sia, God bless and thanks very much for your time, man.
[41:48.080 -> 41:49.040] Yeah, thank you, Sia.
[41:49.040 -> 41:51.040] It's been an absolute privilege.
[41:51.040 -> 41:53.960] ♪♪
[41:53.960 -> 41:55.000] Damien.
[41:55.000 -> 41:56.000] Jake.
[41:56.000 -> 41:57.600] Uh, where do we begin?
[41:57.600 -> 42:01.160] I think that phrase that I used at the start,
[42:01.160 -> 42:03.880] Ubuntu, I am because you are,
[42:03.880 -> 42:06.200] is, I think think a perfect encapsulation
[42:06.200 -> 42:08.680] of everything that we've just spoken about.
[42:08.680 -> 42:12.040] You know, this is a man that puts other people above himself
[42:12.040 -> 42:15.600] and seems to do that by leading by example.
[42:15.600 -> 42:18.680] And I don't know, I think hearing one
[42:18.680 -> 42:20.600] of our high-performing interviewees
[42:20.600 -> 42:23.620] use the non-negotiable behavior of kindness,
[42:23.620 -> 42:25.680] to me, I just found it really quite humbling,
[42:25.680 -> 42:27.920] but incredibly powerful.
[42:27.920 -> 42:30.520] I also love the fact that this is a guy who is operating
[42:30.520 -> 42:32.840] in one of the most brutal sports on the planet, right?
[42:32.840 -> 42:34.200] And he's got to the absolute top.
[42:34.200 -> 42:36.780] He's won the world cup in that sport.
[42:36.780 -> 42:40.480] Yet here he is on our podcast, talking about grief,
[42:40.480 -> 42:43.320] talking about kindness, talking about mental health,
[42:43.320 -> 42:45.280] talking about sharing things with his teammates. This is a conversation with a rugby player that you just haven't had in the past. ymdrechion, ymdrechion am iechyd mental, ymdrechion am rannu pethau gyda'i cymdeithaswyr.
[42:45.280 -> 42:49.840] Dyma sgwrs gyda chwaraewr rygbi a ddim eich bod wedi'i gael yn y byd.
[42:49.840 -> 42:55.360] Ac mae'n fy mod i'n teimlo'n dda am y byd o rygbi, am y byd o sport, am y byd y byddwn ni'n mynd i'w ddod i mewn.
[42:55.360 -> 43:00.480] Yn siŵr, rwy'n credu bod y sgwrs hwn, 20 mlynedd yn ôl, wedi bod yn anhygoel.
[43:00.480 -> 43:06.160] 10 mlynedd yn ôl, roedd yn dal ar y ffringiau o gymdeithas, ac erbyn hyn mae gennych
[43:06.160 -> 43:11.680] un arbennig arbennig y Siofriniaid y Byd, sôn agorol am gael amser i ddweud
[43:11.680 -> 43:15.520] a gael gwybod am un fyn y dynol, y gwybod, i fod yn anodd.
[43:16.480 -> 43:20.480] Ac sôn fel hynny, rwy'n gweld e'n anhygoel iawn.
[43:20.480 -> 43:24.800] Dwi'n golygu, os ydych chi eisiau ystyried hwn, dim ond ystyried ysbytai'n gymdeithasol,
[43:25.000 -> 43:30.000] os ydych chi'n clywed y pethau y dweud y byddwn yn rhedeg mwy, byddwn yn gweithio'n fwy
[43:30.000 -> 43:35.000] yn fwy gweithredol, gyda mwy o ffyrdd o bobl sy'n bwysig amdano, nid o'r un
[43:35.000 -> 43:40.000] sy'n teimlo'n unig yn yr un siart. Ond dw i'n meddwl ar lefel dynol,
[43:40.000 -> 43:48.480] mae'r byd yn lefel gwellleadrwyr iconic fel Sia i gynnal ymdrech i'w dylunio ar gyfer cyfrifiad.
[43:48.480 -> 43:52.480] Rwy'n meddwl oedd yn ddiddorol iawn, mewn gwirionedd, beth sydd wedi ei ddweud am ymgyrchu'n emosiynol gyda'i
[43:52.480 -> 43:58.000] cymdeithaswyr, yn hytrach na'u bod yn cymdeithaswyr yn y sport, maen nhw'n ymgyrchu'n emosiynol,
[43:58.000 -> 44:25.280] felly pan maen nhw'n wir yn ymgyrchu'n fawr, dyna pan ddod ymlaen y peth o gysylltiad ymwneud â'r cyd-destun, dyna pan ddod ymlaen i'r gysylltiad ymhellach ymhellach ymhellach ymhellach ymhellach ymhellach ymhellach ymhellach ymhellach ymhellach ymhellach ymhellach ymhellach ymhellach ymhellach ymhellach ymhellach ymhellach ymhellach ymhellach ymhellach ymhellach ymhellach ymhellach ymhellach ymhellach ymhellach ymhellach ymhellach ymhellach ymhellach ymhellach ymhellach ymhellach ymhellach ymhellach ymhellach ymhellach ymhellach ymhellach ymhellach ymhellach ymhellach ymhellach ymhellach ymhellach ymhellach ymhellach ymhellach ymhellach ymhellach ymhellach ymhellach ymhellach ymhellach ymhellach ymhellach ymhellach ymhellach ymhellach ymhellach ymhellach ymhellach ymhellach ymhellach ymhellach ymhellach ymhellach ymhellach ymhellach ymhellach ymhellach ymhellach ymhellach ymhellach ymhellach ymhellach ymhellach ymhellach ymhellach ymhellach ymhellach ymhellach ymhellach ymhellach ymhellach ymhellach ymhellach ymhellach ymhellach ymhellach ymhellach ymhellach ymhellach ymhellach ymhellach ymhellach ymhellach ymhell'n cael mwynhau bod ymhellach i'w ffrindiau, yn hytrach na
[44:25.280 -> 44:30.480] byddant yn ymweld â nhw fel cydweithwyr. Rwy'n credu y dyna lle rydych chi'n dechrau gynhyrchu rhywbeth,
[44:30.480 -> 44:34.720] mewn amgylchedd, sy'n wir yn eithaf anhygoel. Rwy'n credu y gallwch chi ei gynnal yn ymgyrchol,
[44:35.440 -> 44:41.120] teimlo'r tîm, hwyl, rydych chi ddim yn eisiau ymdrechu y ffras hwnnw, ond rwy'n credu y byddai'r pwysig iawn
[44:41.120 -> 44:45.360] yw mae Sia wedi y to us how you actually go about achieving it.
[44:45.360 -> 44:50.320] And look, the whole reason for you and me doing this podcast is, was we believe that people like
[44:50.320 -> 44:54.480] Sia Khalisi and the other guests that have joined us so far have got something that everyone else
[44:54.480 -> 45:01.120] can learn from. And yet despite that, sometimes it feels slightly crass to me that I am putting
[45:01.120 -> 45:05.640] stuff out there on social media about taking responsibility, not
[45:05.640 -> 45:09.560] being a victim, not looking for blame because my life actually has been very
[45:09.560 -> 45:13.720] nice. Middle-class upbringing in a Norfolk countryside, totally stable,
[45:13.720 -> 45:18.920] parents still together. When Sir Khaleesi comes on here and says, listen I've been
[45:18.920 -> 45:24.000] in the absolute depths of despair, losing family members at a young age, living in
[45:24.000 -> 45:26.800] abject poverty, unable to sleep at night
[45:26.800 -> 45:27.640] because I'm so hungry.
[45:27.640 -> 45:29.040] And if he sits here and says,
[45:29.040 -> 45:31.680] your job is still to live the life you want,
[45:31.680 -> 45:33.160] then you listen, right?
[45:33.160 -> 45:34.240] You listen.
[45:34.240 -> 45:35.600] Yeah, definitely.
[45:35.600 -> 45:37.920] I think one of the things that we've both acknowledged
[45:37.920 -> 45:41.440] and discussed, Jake, has been the kind of exceptionalism
[45:41.440 -> 45:44.680] from some of our interviewees that, you know,
[45:44.680 -> 45:45.280] it's easy to look back from the top of the interviewees that you know it's easy to
[45:45.280 -> 45:50.240] look back from the top of the mountain and claim that anyone can climb it and I
[45:50.240 -> 45:54.240] appreciate that there's often people sat there going well what about me what about
[45:54.240 -> 46:00.160] the challenges that I'm currently facing? I guarantee there'll be very few people
[46:00.160 -> 46:11.660] listening to this podcast that have lived with the same kind of poverty, the trauma, the violence that Sia experienced and yet I feel that the attributes that
[46:11.660 -> 46:17.200] he's described there about working hard, being kind to others, showing gratitude,
[46:17.200 -> 46:22.440] they're all attributes that are accessible for any of us. They're all
[46:22.440 -> 46:28.960] techniques that we can all learn and behaviors all of us can adopt regardless of where we're starting from.
[46:28.960 -> 46:31.720] Listen mate, that was one of the great ones, thanks very much.
[46:31.720 -> 46:37.100] Yeah, I feel quite moved myself as we reflect on just how powerful that
[46:37.100 -> 46:40.080] conversation was.
[46:41.680 -> 46:47.560] Damien, happy new year! Happy new year Jake! Here's something I wanted to chew over
[46:47.560 -> 46:51.360] with you actually this week. I saw a clip on social media and it was a guy
[46:51.360 -> 46:55.140] talking about motivation and following your passions. He said the only people
[46:55.140 -> 46:57.760] that will tell you to follow your passions are people who are already rich
[46:57.760 -> 47:02.280] and successful and what he said was don't follow your passions, find
[47:02.280 -> 47:07.320] something you're good at, work really hard at it, dedicate yourself, be relentless, all the things we talk about
[47:07.320 -> 47:11.920] on the podcast and then you'll earn good money and you'll have really great
[47:11.920 -> 47:15.040] friends and the people in that circle will also love what you're doing so
[47:15.040 -> 47:17.440] they'll be really impressed and so they'll take you out for dinner and
[47:17.440 -> 47:21.480] you'll go on nice holidays with them and your life will slowly get lifted up by
[47:21.480 -> 47:25.780] finding something you're good at and what he was was saying is, that's when the passion comes
[47:25.780 -> 47:29.740] because even if it's biochemistry and you don't wait,
[47:29.740 -> 47:32.560] you don't grow up wanting to be a biochemist or whatever,
[47:32.560 -> 47:34.020] it gives you such great rewards
[47:34.020 -> 47:35.500] that you feel passionate about it
[47:35.500 -> 47:38.140] because you're like, wow, I do this, I get a reward.
[47:38.140 -> 47:40.020] And I've always looked at life
[47:40.020 -> 47:42.840] from the angle of find your passion
[47:42.840 -> 47:44.220] rather than find the thing you're good at
[47:44.220 -> 47:46.700] and your passion will flow naturally from that.
[47:46.700 -> 47:49.040] It's an interesting one that I'm kind of debating
[47:49.040 -> 47:50.000] to start the new year.
[47:50.000 -> 47:52.400] Yeah, I think it's a really interesting point.
[47:52.400 -> 47:55.120] I still think that there's something that precedes
[47:55.120 -> 47:57.680] the idea of, to find something that you're good at,
[47:57.680 -> 47:59.580] there must be something that engages you.
[47:59.580 -> 48:02.140] So if you ever look at like young kids,
[48:02.140 -> 48:26.240] have a look for like that, that mouth open moment where they'll see something and they're absolutely absorbed by it edrychwch ar, fel, y blaenoriaeth o'r blaenoriaeth, edrychwch ar, fel, y, y, y, y, y, y, y, y, y, y, y, y, y, y, y, y, y, y, y, y, y, y, y, y, y, y, y, y, y, y, y, y, y, y, y, y, y, y, y, y, y, y, y, y, y, y, y, y, y, y, y, y, y, y, y, y, y, y, y, y, y, y, y, y, y, y, y, y, y, y, y, y, y, y, y, y, y, y, y, y, y, y, y, y, y, y, y, y, y, y, y, y, y, y, y, y, y, y, y, y, y, y, y, y, y, y, y, y, y, y, y, y, y, y, y, y, y, y, y, y, y, y, y, y, y, y, y, y, y, y, y, y, y, y, y, y, y, y, y, y, y, y, y, y, y, y, y, y, y, y, y, y, y, y, y, y, y, y, y, y, y, y, y, y, y, y, y, y, y, y, y, y, y, y, y, y, y, y, y, y, y, y, y, y, y, y, y, y, y, y, y, y, y, y, y, y, y, y, y, y, y, y, y, y, it gives you more opportunities, more experiences within it.
[48:26.240 -> 48:30.960] So I agree with that point, but I still think there's a moment that precedes it,
[48:30.960 -> 48:34.800] that's more around finding something that really intrigues and absorbs you.
[48:34.800 -> 48:40.720] So many comments about the interview with Tyra Ming this week. I mean, if I just pick out a few,
[48:41.920 -> 48:47.240] Jihan saying, probably the best one so far, an amazing insight into a genuine lad's journey.
[48:47.240 -> 48:50.000] Paul Wilcox, this pod is brilliant on so many levels,
[48:50.000 -> 48:53.680] I was particularly struck by Tyrone's vulnerability.
[48:53.680 -> 48:56.080] Jack on YouTube, sick interview,
[48:56.080 -> 48:59.920] Mingz gave great insight, I massively respect his honesty.
[48:59.920 -> 49:01.760] Joe Batten, this is one of the best ones yet,
[49:01.760 -> 49:04.160] an excellent example that when you think
[49:04.160 -> 49:05.160] you've reached your destination, you've only really started, hashtag always learning. Joe Batten, dyma un o'r cyd-dda, ac yn eithaf hynny, yw pan ydych chi'n meddwl eich bod chi wedi'ch dod i'w ddestin,
[49:05.160 -> 49:06.560] dydych chi'n mynd i'r ffordd y byddwch chi'n dechrau.
[49:06.560 -> 49:08.240] Hashtag, dysgu bob amser.
[49:08.240 -> 49:09.960] Mae'n llawer i bob coment o Chris Bright,
[49:09.960 -> 49:13.480] Mr Herbert, Philip Connolly, Mr James, Kieran, Damien,
[49:13.480 -> 49:15.600] llawer o bobl yn cael ymddangos,
[49:15.600 -> 49:17.640] ac yn llawer ohonyn nhw yn sylweddoli
[49:17.640 -> 49:20.160] nad oeddent yn gwybod o Tyrone Ming.
[49:20.160 -> 49:22.000] Wel, rwy'n credu mai dyna wedi bod yn rhan fawr
[49:22.000 -> 49:23.160] i llawer o bobl.
[49:23.160 -> 49:45.280] Rwy'n cofio gweld pobl wneud commentau iddo o'r ddau o'r ddau o'r ddau o'r ddau o'r ddau o'r ddau o'r ddau o'r ddau o'r ddau o'r ddau o'r ddau o'r ddau o'r ddau o'r ddau o'r ddau o'r ddau o'r ddau o'r ddau o'r ddau o'r ddau o'r ddau o'r ddau o'r ddau o'r ddau o'r ddau o'r ddau o'r ddau o'r ddau o'r ddau o'r ddau o'r ddau o'r ddau o'r ddau o'r ddau o'r ddau o'r ddau o'r ddau o'r ddau o'r ddau o'r ddau o'r ddau o'r ddau o'r ddau o'r ddau o'r ddau o'r ddau o'r ddau o'r ddau o'r ddau o'r ddau o'r ddau o'r ddau o'r ddau o'r ddau o'r ddau o'r ddau o'r ddau o'r ddau o'r ddau o'r ddau o'r ddau o'r ddau o'r ddau o'r ddau o'r diaeth o'r gwyrdd, rydych chi'n gweld unig ychydig o'r person, mae llawer mwy
[49:45.280 -> 49:52.000] yn digwydd y tu allan, ac rwy'n credu, eto i Tyrone, i ddeall ei ffyrdd, rydych chi'n gwybod,
[49:52.000 -> 49:56.080] byw yn ymhellach arwain yn ystod ei bywyd, cael ei ddewis
[49:56.080 -> 50:00.640] ar ôl 10 mlynedd ym Mhanter De Cymru, a bod yn adnoddwyr
[50:00.640 -> 50:04.720] ffyrdd, yna gael y malwriaeth pan oedd yn mynd i Bormouth, mae llawer
[50:04.720 -> 50:28.960] mwy, y gallwn gwybod y detaill, ond ynawybodaeth, y gwybodaeth, y gwybodaeth, y gwybodaeth, y gwybodaeth, y gwybodaeth, y i'r wythnos dydd hwn gyda Cio Qwilisi ac mae gennym gynlluniau fawr, dydyn ni, Damien?
[50:28.960 -> 50:33.360] 2021 bydd yn y blynyddoedd i'r podcast High Performance, rwy'n credu. Beth ydych chi'n credu?
[50:33.360 -> 50:38.080] Ie, gobeithio, gobeithio y byddwn ni'n dal y fomentum gyda hynny. Rwy'n credu mai mae wedi bod yn
[50:38.080 -> 50:42.240] ddifrifoliad gwirioneddol o fod yn ymwneud â hynny ac fel dweud, mae'n drifo arall i ni
[50:42.800 -> 50:46.160] ond ar gyfer pobl, nid ar gyfer cyfrifiadau, ac yn rhoi sylw i bobl
[50:46.160 -> 50:51.600] y gallent ddrau rhai o'r pwyntiau o'r cyfrifoldeb a chynhyrchu nhw,
[50:51.600 -> 50:56.000] heddiw yn eu bywydau eu hunain, personol neu prosfeil neu cymdeithasol. Felly gobeithio y gallwn
[50:56.000 -> 51:00.080] ddod o hyd i'r effaith hwnnw ar bobl a bydd pobl yn dod â ni ar y ffordd.
[51:00.080 -> 51:04.880] Yn wirioneddol, a Damien a fi, ac yn yr unig groesawd cyfrifoldeb pwdcast,
[51:04.880 -> 51:06.000] rydyn ni'n hoffi'r gwneud hyn, rydyn ni'n hoffi'r ffaith y gallwch chi gysylltu'r peth hwn ar gyfrif, Absolutely, and Damien and myself and the entire High Performance Podcast team, we love doing this.
[51:06.000 -> 51:12.000] We love the fact that you can access this stuff for free, whether it is all of the little clips we put out on social media,
[51:12.000 -> 51:19.000] and you can find the podcast at High Performance on Instagram, whether it's the fact that you can go to YouTube and see long form clips,
[51:19.000 -> 51:27.980] just type in High Performance Podcast onto YouTube and find it there, or whether it's wherever you get your podcasts. The key for us is that this content is free. We
[51:27.980 -> 51:31.800] only ask one thing that you rate the pod and you review the pod. I can't tell you
[51:31.800 -> 51:35.240] the difference it makes. It is genuinely helpful for us so if you find any time
[51:35.240 -> 51:40.460] early in this new year please do just quickly rate and review the podcast. We
[51:40.460 -> 51:45.440] would be hugely grateful. As always huge thanks to Will O'Connor and Hannah Smith
[51:45.440 -> 51:47.040] for their hard work on the podcast.
[51:47.040 -> 51:49.340] Thanks as well to Finn Ryan from Rethink Audio
[51:49.340 -> 51:50.480] for his hard work.
[51:50.480 -> 51:52.240] As always, huge thanks to Damien.
[51:52.240 -> 51:55.680] You can find him at liquidthinker on Instagram.
[51:55.680 -> 51:58.200] But the biggest thanks of all goes to you
[51:58.200 -> 52:00.200] for sharing the pod, for talking about the pod,
[52:00.200 -> 52:02.880] for downloading the podcast, for rating it and reviewing it.
[52:02.880 -> 52:10.560] You're the reason why this podcast has been so high up the charts and why it's had such an impact with people. So huge thanks to you
[52:10.560 -> 52:16.240] and stay with us because the plans are big for 2021. And that's it pretty much for Series 3.
[52:16.240 -> 52:20.000] We're going to be back next week with a review episode and then we'll take a break for a few
[52:20.000 -> 52:26.080] weeks and then we return with Series 4 when you can hear these golden gems of knowledge.
[52:29.120 -> 52:33.440] Honour cage is the perfect game. Imagine going out there and you're impossible to play against,
[52:33.440 -> 52:37.520] impossible. When you've got the ball, they can't get it off you. When they've got the ball,
[52:38.160 -> 52:42.320] they've got so much pressure, they're giving it back to you and that's unrelenting.
[52:42.320 -> 52:47.720] That'd be fascinating. When Alex Ferguson came and talked, he talked about the Canadian geese and that what they
[52:47.720 -> 52:52.600] do is they take turns and who's the lead. One gets tired and they fall back. I'm a spiritual
[52:52.600 -> 52:58.160] guy in a lot of ways and we were getting our picture taken having won the Ryder Cup and
[52:58.160 -> 53:02.960] we're all gathered around a trophy. And then amazingly, right behind the photographers,
[53:02.960 -> 53:07.060] right behind the clubhouse, this perfect V of Canadian geese flew over.
[53:07.060 -> 53:11.820] That instinct is the key that unlocks inspiration,
[53:11.820 -> 53:13.500] innovation, and dreaming.
[53:13.500 -> 53:15.420] You know, that instinct of yearning
[53:15.420 -> 53:19.000] and finding yourself sort of just drawn in
[53:19.000 -> 53:21.020] to using your imagination.
[53:21.020 -> 53:23.500] And so that instinct for me is,
[53:23.500 -> 53:24.700] I think as I've got older,
[53:24.700 -> 53:25.140] I won't be
[53:25.140 -> 53:30.120] pushed into positions of saying and doing something just because everybody else thinks
[53:30.120 -> 53:34.300] it's the right thing to do. They talked about being true to yourself and being accountable
[53:34.300 -> 53:40.200] and it's your responsibility. And so sometimes that instinct, you know, is uncomfortable,
[53:40.200 -> 53:45.000] but I think that that uncomfortableness in business and in life is good for us
[53:45.000 -> 53:50.200] because it causes us to challenge things in ourselves and the world that we live in.
[53:50.200 -> 53:58.400] So there you go, Series 4 of the High Performance Podcast coming your way in February.
[53:58.400 -> 54:02.300] We'll see you in a week's time for the review episode at the end of Series 3.
[54:02.300 -> 54:05.160] But for now, Happy new year from all of us
[54:05.160 -> 54:07.020] at the High Performance Podcast.
[54:07.020 -> 54:15.020] ♪♪
[54:15.020 -> 54:34.120] ♪♪ Attention, Fred Meyer shoppers.
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[54:53.800 -> 54:54.960] and are free to the recipient.
[54:54.960 -> 54:55.840] Check with your plan.
[54:55.840 -> 54:57.920] Services and availability vary by location.
[54:57.920 -> 54:59.600] Age and other restrictions may apply.
[54:59.600 -> 55:01.600] Visit the pharmacy or site for details.
[54:57.190 -> 54:59.190] or cite for details.