How to follow your own path

Tonight, England take on Italy in the final of the Euros!  I have to admit that, along with the rest of the country right now, I'm a little bit in love with Gareth Southgate.  Win or lose (hopefully win!!), you know that first and foremost he'll be ensuring his players and the team around him are ok.  Throughout the whole competition, in fact, from the moment he took on this mammoth role, he's acted with honesty, integrity and professionalism.  But what I admire most of all, is that he's had the conviction to follow his own path.


When it was announced that Gareth (yes, I'm on first name terms now) was going to be the new England manager, some people criticised the decision and said he was too weak, not exciting enough, too nice etc etc.  I think we've all seen him prove people wrong over the last few years and he's shown b***s of steel to follow his own path.

He hasn't always chosen the team that the public, and the media, wanted to see, he's gone for tactical, safe and solid on occasions, rather than the 'sexy' football that some of the other European countries play.  He's done things his way, with the players and the backroom staff that he's built and that takes guts.  I admire anyone who shows guts and the determination to follow their own path.  So, how can we apply some of this magic to our own lives?

  • Follow your initial gut feeling - that feeling of needing to do something but you're not entirely sure why and can't explain it at that moment in time.  Be brave, go with it, and don't talk yourself out of it.
  • Don't follow the same guidebook as everyone else - as I keep mentioning, it's ok not to be in a pigeon hole.  Be brave, write your own new guidebook.
  • Surround yourself with the people who believe in you - those close to you will give you the freedom to follow your own path.  Be brave, it really doesn't matter what people outside your inner circle think.
  • Accept that you will make mistakes along the way - your path will lead you down a couple of dead ends from time to time.  Be brave, turn around and find another route.
  • It's ok to change your path en route - you can change your mind if things are not working out how you wanted them to.  Be brave, you don't have to continue and finish something if it no longer feels right.  It takes guts to admit that something isn't working and you need to do things differently.
Whoever you are and whatever you do, sport has the power to unite us, let's grab this opportunity, embrace our differences and come together as a TEAM.

#2021

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