Author

Chris Dunlop

Bill Beswick is one of the UK’s most highly decorated sports psychologists, with a career spanning coaching and consulting for elite teams and athletes across football, basketball, and Olympic sports.

In this interview, Bill shares profound insights on mindset, resilience, and the mental approach that drives high performance.

But first here is some of Bill's achievements:

Pioneering Sports Psychology in English Football:

Beswick was the first sports psychologist to work full-time in English professional football, collaborating with Premier League clubs such as Derby County, Manchester United, Middlesbrough, and Sunderland.

International Football Teams:

He worked with England's U18 and U21 teams and served as the team psychologist for the England senior men's team.

Books:

Changing Your Story

Focused for Soccer

Here are 25 powerful lessons from Bill’s extensive experience that can be applied to both sports and life.

He talks about being honest with these questions.

It's not about pretending you want something when you don't. It's about being real with yourself and understanding the sacrifices required to achieve your goals.

Particularly that last point, asking yourself truly, how much you are willing to suffer?

He has some interesting takes on this. As an introvert, he found that it wasn't effective in a coaching context and so he needed to bring a performer self to elevate his team and bring out the best in their abilities.

He believes that it's like putting on armour, stepping up and being the person that you need to be to achieve what you have set out to do.

One of the key elements that I have observed here from our work with high performers, is that the simplest way that this is done is through a journal.

In a business context I think the way that this is elevated is through blogs and writing, which is why I started this.

Here is some great blogs from people that I follow:

• Paul Graham
• Sam Altman
• Andrew Bosworth

I really enjoy this quote by Leslie.

If you’re thinking without writing, you only think you’re thinking. \

Leslie Lamport

Adam Peaty said, 'Today I will train like a champion'... he trains so hard that winning is inevitable on race day.

He talks about how setbacks knock you emotionally off balance.

A key thing you have to do is work beyond the emotion to get to why did I have that setback... and move on.

I like this idea that attitude is a choice. The empowering thing about listening to this talk is how many things are within your control.

He talks about making the 85% consistent. I think this is really practical to a business context, where it is an endurance event and not a sprint.

In sports you have a game every week where you have to perform at your optimal level.

Business is different, you have to perform at a high level every day.

The 85% concept is great because it's about being consistent and not burning out.

The quote that sums it up the best in the talk is that he says that victims have "1,000 excuses but not a single reason".

I've noticed since working with the Olympic team and being around people that value high performance that a number of things have rubbed off on my mindset.

1. The importance of sleep - I've started to track my sleep and make sure that I get 8 hours a night.
2. The importance of commitment - I've started to track my commitments and make sure that I follow through on them.
3. The importance of focus - Focus on a goal and keep working towards it until you achieve it.

He talks about the fine line of control and obsession.

Focus is where you are in control of the process and the outcome. Obsession is where the balance is tipped and you are no longer in control.

I like this last point and it's a good one to finish.

"Stay positive for yourself... In tough times, remind yourself of what you’re capable of achieving."