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The pressure, the noise, the meaning of the occasion, it had all become too much.

Two years later, he returned to the same stadium, the same stage, and this time everything was different. He scored one of the biggest goals of his career, not because his ability had changed, but because his mindset had.

In this episode, I share what I learned from Dan’s transformation and the powerful lesson he now lives by: play the game, not the occasion. Together, we explore:

• Why high-pressure moments can derail even the best performers
• How to “shrink the stage” and focus on what’s in your control
• The science behind reframing nerves as excitement
• What Newcastle United’s evolution teaches us about team mindset
• How to prepare for your own “Wembley moments” with clarity and calm

Here is more information on the studies referenced: 

1. What Governs Choking Under Pressure? (Sian L. Beilock & Thomas H. Carr, 2001)
2. When Paying Attention Becomes Counterproductive: Impact of Divided versus Skill-Focused Attention on Novice and Experienced Performance of Sensorimotor Skills (Sian L. Beilock, Wierenga & Carr, 2002)
3. Get Excited: Reappraising Pre-Performance Anxiety as Excitement (Alison Wood Brooks, 2014)
4. A Pre-Performance Routine to Alleviate Choking in “Choking-Susceptible” Athletes (Christopher Mesagno, Daryl Marchant, Tony Morris, 2008)
5. The Effectiveness of Pre-Performance Routines in Sports: A Meta-Analysis (Anton G. O. Rupprecht, Ulrich S. Tran, Peter Gröpel, 2021.)
6. Attentional Focus and Motor Learning: A Review (Gabriele Wulf, 2013)
7. The Performance and Psychological Effects of Goal Setting (process vs outcome) (O. Williamson et al. 2024)

Listen to the full episode with Dan Burn: https://pod.fo/e/2eb8b4

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