Career Clarity with Athletes: A 2ndwind Podcast with Ryan Gonsalves

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In this episode, Ryan speaks to James Beeston, a former full-time footballer who successfully navigated a complex journey. In their riveting discussion, James recounts his journey from being scouted at the tender age of six, through his time at a youth academy, to the founding of Bisterra, his thriving supplemental soccer training company.

In 2010 James was rejected from Port Vale Football Club where he was an LFE apprentice, a team he had ardently supported for almost his entire life. Rather than succumbing to this heartbreak, he saw it as a redirection to something greater. Realizing his untapped potential lying in training, he teamed up with his then roommate Mike, started as a club coach but felt as though team coaching wasn't maximizing a player's full potential, hence opting for individual training. Fast forward to today, the company operates in six different states. 

Tune in to learn more about:

- A sneak peek into the dynamic world of his brainchild, Besteera

- The sacrifices and trade offs he encountered as he grew in his sporting adventure

- Why did he switch his euphoria of apprenticeship to getting a hit of the reality of his dream 

- The recollection of his first heartbreak in sports and how it was delivered to him

- What he had to change in his renewed course to be a professional footballer

- The profound benefits of maintaining your discipline and professionalism in whatever environment you're in

- The positive impact his partner Mike has brought  not only to the business but in James’s life too

- How James continuously supplements his learning in terms of business management and personal improvement

- Valuable gems derived from the rejection that laid the foundation to a successful business 

… and so much more! 

Are you looking for Career Clarity for your next step, for more information, or to book a consultancy, make sure you check out www.2ndwind.io  

Links:

Website: http://www.beesterasoccertraining.com 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesbeestera 

X: https://x.com/Beestera_James?s=20 

TikTok: https://vm.tiktok.com/ZM6RS7Fjq/ 

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Have you ever wondered about the challenges and sacrifices an athlete has to make to pursue their dreams? Listen in for a glimpse into the world of Idan Kugel, a former professional football player from Israel who transitioned into the military. He shares his unique journey of trying to balance his love for football and the responsibility of military service, and the tough choices he had to make under his father’s influence. His story is an intriguing exploration of the evolution of professionalism in football in Israel, a testament to his unwavering dedication and the personal connection he shares with his older brother, who also served in the army.

Tune in to learn more about:

- His sporting career and the hurdles strewn along his path

- The demotivating dynamics of Israel’s football structure during his formative years

- Leaving football for the army and the mental conflicts that arose with this decision

- A glimpse into the military way of life for rookies and his evolution during his three transformative years in the army 

- Unravelling the grip of football addiction and identity 

- Traits from his sporting career that served him as a combat soldier and what he had to leave behind

- If he foresaw the trajectory of his post military service period

- Idan’s affinity for struggle and how it energizes and sustains his drive

- His triumphant return to sports by impacting the lives of young athletes 

- Key traits that determine the winning mentality echoing from his battlefield and sports journey 

… and so much more!

Are you looking for Career Clarity for your next step, for more information, or to book a consultancy, make sure you check out www.2ndwind.io 

Links:

LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/idan-kugel-620562234

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Have you ever wondered how athletes transition to "real world" careers after their sporting journey ends? Join us for an inspiring conversation with Olivia King, the former University of Victoria swimmer who switched gears to rowing and made it onto the Canadian national team. Olivia shares her candid story of balancing academics and competitive sports during her university years, the shift from swimming to rowing, and the unique challenges she conquered as the youngest member of the national team.

Olivia's tale of determination and resilience is nothing short of awe-inspiring. She didn't make the national team in 2016, but instead of letting this setback break her, she used it as fuel. In 2017, she proved her mettle and earned her place back on the team. Olivia helps us understand that setbacks aren't failures, but essential stepping stones in our journey. She exemplifies that resilience is not just about returning to the battlefield, but also about learning, growing and moving forward with even more vigor.

But Olivia's story doesn't end at the finishing line. Post her sports career, she took on a new challenge - the corporate world. From working at the local YMCA to joining the police force, Olivia explored myriad opportunities before finding her niche in business. She applies the same discipline and perseverance she learned as an athlete to her corporate career and encourages us all to view transitions as opportunities for growth and discovery. Listen in, as Olivia's journey is sure to resonate with every athlete, every professional, and anyone who loves a tale of resilience and personal growth.

Are you looking for Career Clarity for your next step, for more information, or to book a consultancy, make sure you check out www.2ndwind.io  

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What happens when a former professional American footballer swaps the field for the corporate world? Monica Livingston, a former professional American footballer who has on and off the field represented DC Divas, a professional Women's tackle football team. She is also a corporate trainer, culture coach, two-time winner of Comcast SportsNet ‘Funniest Sports Celebrity’ in Washington, And the founder and host of her international podcast The Huddle with Mo and Lo, a hilarious and interactive show that takes an inside look at athletes huddling up the corporate landscape. 

After sustaining a devastating ankle injury that marked the end of her sports career, Monica determined to preserve the closeness with her sports family, took it upon herself to represent them, sharing her story of resilience and power in mindset and confidence, and even birthed a pseudo women's sports company. She has also redefined herself as an entrepreneur in the world of education, sports management, and corporate training using humor to educate, engage, and inspire.

Tune in to learn more about:

- The evolving landscape of football accessibility, sponsorship, and funding to women during her time vs now 
- How she confidently went to the bar and carved out her sponsorship deal
- The wellsprings of her courage and resilience during the post-injury and surgery period 
- What changed for her after injury and the hardest part of this transformative journey 
- Insights from how she has built her career, and strengthens the culture and mindset of elite athletes
- How she is not only serving athletes but making expansive influence beyond her sports family 
- What drives her impactful contributions
- Insights to athletes navigating the trajectories to their next pinnacle of success 
… and so much more! 

Are you looking for Career Clarity for your next step, for more information, or to book a consultancy, make sure you check out

www.2ndwind.io 

Links:

Website: https://www.monicadlivingston.com
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/monicalivingston
Instagram: https://instagram.com/livingston3636?ig
Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-huddle-with-mo-and-lo/

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In today's episode, Ryan speaks to Vera Ignjstovic, a former handballer representing Australia at the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games. Negotiating her way into being a goalie in a male-dominated football team's inner childhood, Vera unknowingly laid the groundwork for her Olympic career and her later scientific ventures. 

Fast forward 22 years, Vera is a seasoned Medical Researcher focusing on improving outcomes for children and is a groundbreaker in feet rarely achieved in the Medical Research realm; an internationally recognised expert in pediatrics, hematology, and proteomics. She is the Assistant Director for Translational Research at the Johns Hopkins All Children's Institute for Clinical and Translational Research and Professor, Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins University.

Tune in to learn more about:

- How Vera put herself out to a male-dominated game till she was given the role of a goalie
- The resurgence of handball in her life after they relocated to Australia from Serbia
- How they navigated playing handball in the era it was an amateur sport
- What she had to delay or eliminate to find a balance between the Olympics and her Ph.D.
- The unspoken anticlimax when one is not a professional athlete
- Vera's bold decision to walk away from her first professional opportunity in Denmark opting instead to try her luck  as a scientist
- Landing her first technical job based on an interview skewed towards her Olympic exploits
- Pearls of wisdom from her amazing journey and multiple transitions
… and so much more! 

Are you looking for Career Clarity for your next step, for more information, or to book a consultancy, make sure you check out

www.2ndwind.io  

Links:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/professor-vera-ignjatovic 

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In today's episode, Ryan speaks to Jamieson Doyle Taylor, the founder, and CEO of G2G sports, Private practice lawyer, and accredited AFL senior coach for women's sports. In Jamieson's under-18 football seasons, with dreams of having a dazzling career ahead,but like a plot twist in a gripping novel, a severe head injury knocked on his dreams, altering  his athletic ambitions. But to him, as tough as it was, that was a mere thrilling twist in his narrative, not the end.

The life altering injury steered him towards the legal path, and as they delve into his journey, today, he has had a 19-plus successful career as a private practice lawyer. He has amazingly found his way back to the world of sports by creating an Agency; G2G Sports that offers players comprehensive management, coaching, and consulting services to help them have a seamless transition to their after-sports life.

Tune in to learn more about:

- The life-changing injury that reshaped his life's trajectory 
- How sports still had a significant presence in his life during his legal career path
- The impact the injury had on his sports aspirations and the tough decisions he had to make to pick himself from them
- Tips on how to unleash your competitive spirit in mundane day-to-day activities
- How he redirected the impacts the injury had on his physical and mental state
- His unwavering passion and commitment to helping athletes smoothly transition into their second wind and his passion for grassroots and women's sports
- The powerful reminder that it's perfectly okay to go through your sports life - career in a reversed manner 
- Invaluable insights from his entrepreneurial journey 
…and so much more!

Are you looking for Career Clarity for your next step, for more information, or to book a consultancy, make sure you check out http://www.2ndwind.io 

Links:

LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamieson-doyle-taylor 

Company's Website: https://g2gsports.com.au 

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Have you ever wondered what it takes to earn a spot in the Olympic Games? Join us as we sit down with Alex, an Olympian, coach, and entrepreneur, who gives us a fascinating look into her journey from the swimming pools of South Africa to the rowing lanes of the Olympics. It's an incredible story of resilience, tenacity, and the sheer will to succeed, even when the odds seem impossible.

Alex's remarkable transformation from an athlete to a coach and finally to an entrepreneur is nothing short of inspiring. Hear about her relentless pursuit of her Olympic dream that didn't falter even after he transitioned into coaching. Her journey to stand shoulder to shoulder with the world's best athletes on the starting line of the Games is a testament to the power of perseverance. He also takes us along on her introspective journey post-Olympics, revealing how it led him on a new path to coaching.

Tune in to learn more about:

• Difference between the beauty and  love she had for swimming and rowing
• What Alex aspired from rowing after it became alive in her life
• Her love for beauty and excellence and how when it faded, it clouded her performance
• Where she had placed her academic life in pursuit of her sporting dream
• Why does she have the what else mindset even whilst being focused on going to the Olympics
• Her business ventures after moving on from sports
• The extent she was fearful and scared of her newfound business ventures and how she went about it 
• Why you should prioritize celebrating every win as you match the result

…and so much more!

Are you looking for Career Clarity for your next step, for more information, or to book a consultancy, make sure you check out http://www.2ndwind.io 

Links:
LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-cech? 

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In today's episode, Ryan speaks to Cecil Jee Thomas, a former professional footballer and dancer turned dynamic presenter and content creator. Cecil's journey is a testament to defying people's expectations, from being told he won't amount to anything bigger than being incredibly talented, Cecil now stands as a beacon of inspiration, from hosting TV shows and speaking to fans around the world at some of the biggest sporting arenas.

Alongside being a successful performer in acting, dancing, and modelling, Cecil is the founder of Talent Transfer, where he spearheads Talent Transfer Talks at professional football clubs all over the UK. He uses his journey through challenging industries to highlight the transferable skills and use them to open the minds of academy players to understand what they can achieve both during and after their football careers. 

Tune in to learn more about:

• His first heartbreak in his strive to achieve his football dream
• Where he placed his talent in performing arts whilst pursuing his dream
• Troubles he faced in his sports career that didn't match his expectations of this dream
• Skills he brought from football into his performing arts exploration
• What helped him realise that he was soaring  for more than just a dance
• Valuable Insights on how best you can set yourself up for your second wind from his experiences

…and so much more!

Are you looking for Career Clarity for your next step, for more information, or to book a consultancy, make sure you check out www.2ndwind.io 

Links:

Website: www.talent-transfer.co.uk 

Instagram: https://instagram.com/cecil_jee?ig

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cecil-jee-thomas 

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@cecil_jee?

Watch Cecil's life Documentary: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cH3QcBDQ 

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In today's episode, Ryan speaks to Brett Smith, a former world-rated and Lightweight professional boxing champion.  

Mentally battling addiction during his boxing prime, Smith rebounded and returned to the sport even stronger. He later left his high-paying job to start a successful business that scaled to seven figures in just two years. Additionally, he serves as a mindset and performance coach at Conscious Hooligan, demonstrating the same determination and tenacity in all his endeavors.

Tune in to learn more about:

• What attracted him to boxing and the earliest memories of the sport ingrained in his mind
• Succumbing mentally to addiction and how he dealt with it and redirected himself
• Coming back to boxing and navigating through it professionally
• What options did he have when he recognized that his boxing career was coming to an end
• Brett's toughest match in the ring and what he feels it took from him
• Why if athletes venture into business their odds of succeeding are very high
• What he has to leave in the ring to be successful in business 
• Amazing insights from his personal experiences on how to prepare and navigate your second wind

…and so much more!

Are you looking for Career Clarity for your next step, for more information, or to book a consultancy, make sure you check out www.2ndwind.io  

Links:

Instagram: https://instagram.com/brett_w_smith?ig 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brett-w-smith 

Resources:

You Can Heal Your Life: by Hay Louise: https://www.amazon.com/You-Can-Heal-Your-Life/dp/0937611018

Mind Power into the 21st Century: by Kehoe John https://www.amazon.com/Mind-Power-into-21st-Century/ 

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In this episode, Ryan interviews Declan O'Hare, a skilled English footballer. Starting his journey at 12 with Lincoln Academy, he rose to professionalism at Lincoln City FC at 15. After successful stints at other clubs, he moved to the US to pursue his dream. Despite changing universities twice, he now juggles a dual career as a footballer and works in Logistics and Supply Chain at JBAndrews.

Tune in to learn more about:

• Declan's earliest football memories 
• How his sporting career opened more doors for his academia and career
• Progressing through his career to hitting the pinnacle of his football dream
• What led to him leaving Lincoln City and relocating to  the US
• His football experiences in the US and lessons he picked up
• How he's juggling a corporate job, training a still giving his best in the field
• The hardest part of his dual career and what he does to be successful in both
• Gems for young players to help you best manage your journey from his personal experiences

… and so much more!

Are you looking for Career Clarity for your next step, for more information, or to book a consultancy, make sure you check out http://www.2ndwind.io

Links:

LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/declan-o-hare- 

X: https://x.com/DecOHare?s=