A warm welcome to episode 37 of the Happy Hockey podcast where our guest is Simon Mason, Olympian, ex GB hockey player and now Managing Director of Mercian Limited and hockey commentator talking the nature of unintended consequences. As an additional segment this month I'm pleased to announce that I have been selected to play for Wales in the World Masters Hockey Men's Over 35s World Cup in South Africa in October this year. All the hockey is self-funded so if you've enjoyed this or another of my podcasts and would like to donate to my playing career, please go to Help Peter play in the World Cup in South Africa! - a Personal Causes crowdfunding project in Burgess Hill by Peter Thomas (crowdfunder.co.uk). In the "first half" we hear from Simon about his journey from Hertfordshire to comprehensive school in Gloucestershire where he began his hockey career. Through university in Leeds and commuting back to Bristol to play for Firebrands and then becoming a three time Olympian for Great Britain as goal-keeper for the Men's hockey team. Our "half time" this week looks at Love + Work by Marcus Buckingham, and the importance of finding your "Wyrd", your spiritual centre, and identifying your “Red threads” the things you love to do and then spending at least 20% of your working day doing this. In the "second half" we hear more from Simon about his life post international hockey, and the importance of networks and communication, as he became a hockey commentator for international hockey and Managing Director of Mercian Limited. Simon leaves us with his three “key take-aways" of: (1) Control your own energy (and never give up on a dream) (2) Try the best you can to look at things from the other person's point of view (3) If you're prepared to give out your energy make sure it is positive - you never know what day another person is having

A warm welcome to episode 36 of the Happyhockey podcast where our guest is Gil Robertson, South East Regional Manager for Sported a national charity for sport for development (Sported UK | Sported), talking sport for social impact. In the "first half" we hear from Gil about her journey from school in Scotland through being a lifeguard to the leisure industry to being a trustee of a local charity and working for Sported. Our "half time" this week looks at Good to Great by Jim Collins and the Hedgehog concept - (1) choosing what you can be the best in the world at (2) working out what is your economic driver (3) doing what you are passionate about. In the "second half" we hear more from Gil about her next steps, staying put geographically, moving into project management within sport, community development and inter organisation collaboration. Gil leaves us with her three “key take-aways" of: (1) keep positive people around you (2) keep doing what you believe is right (3) it's never too late - if you want to do something just do it

A warm welcome to episode 35 of the Happyhockey podcast where our guest is Leila Williams talking their journey to becoming a hockey goal-keeper. In the "first half" we hear from Leila about their journey from starting to play sports at primary school through football and cricket before becoming a hockey goal-keeper at secondary school and their current playing career for Southwick Hockey Club women's 1st XI. Our "half time" this week looks feedback and self-reflection and the ratio of 5:1 for strengths and areas to improve, citing the work done by Martin Seligman on positive psychology. In the "second half" we hear more from Leila about their journey moving forwards: the choice about university, ensuring that going has a real purpose beyond the social side; their interest in human geography and sustainability; and maintaining their involvement in sport for the social and mental benefits. Leila leaves us with their three “key take-aways" of playing sport: (1) Growing in confidence at something in sport, like goal-keeping, can have positive impacts on other areas of your life (2) Friendships, of all ages, in sport can help you learn to engage with and talk to others when starting to work. (3) Reflective practice and mindful engagement in activities can help you stay in the moment.

A warm welcome to episode 34 of the Happyhockey podcast where our guest is James Shillaker talking a life in sport. In the "first half" we hear from James about his journey from first playing sport at school and college through to his current committee roles for various grass roots sports clubs in Mid Sussex. Our "half time" this week looks principles, in particular those highlighted by Stephen Covey in the 7 Habits of Highly effective people and how incorporating these into life can be so important. In the "second half" we hear more from James about his roles in grass roots sports clubs, in particular the importance of collaboration and how we need volunteers now more than ever. James leaves us with his three “key take-aways" of: (1) Learn how to present yourself (2) Don't f***ing smoke (3) Go and learn to be a leader

A warm welcome to episode 33 of the Happyhockey podcast where our guest is Annamaria Kovacs talking training to be a counsellor. In the "first half" we hear from Annamaria about her journey, from growing up in Hungary to starting a family and then moving to Brighton. Our "half time" this week looks at the book "Outliers: the story of success" by Malcolm Gladwell and the importance of certain factors in our achievements. In the "second half" we hear more from Annamaria about her Level 4 training course to becoming a qualified counsellor. Annamaria leaves us with her three “key take-aways" of: (1) show respect (2) importance of being geniune (3) taking responsibility

A warm welcome to episode 32 where our guest is Simon Bullmore talking Ethics is a process In the "first half" we hear from Simon about his journey, starting with his family ancestry, through a degree in languages before embarking on a career in advertising and marketing Our "half time" this week looks at learning to say no, through the paradoxical theory of change from Gestalt therapy; how change comes when you become what you are, not when you try to become what you are not. In the "second half" we hear more from Simon about ethics within business, sport and wider lives and how ethics is an ongoing journey as we look to align our lives to our values. Simon leaves us with his three “key take-aways" of: (1) conversation is really important (2) really engage with and listen to others; what they are saying, thinking, feeling (3) be happy with where you've come from

A warm welcome to episode 31 where our guest is Mo Kanjilal talking diversity and inclusion and why you need to include everyone. In the "first half" we hear from Mo about her journey from school in East Anglia to university in Brighton and then working for multi-national companies in London. Our "half time" this week looks at goal setting and how the end of the year is a good time of year to be thinking about your next 12 months. In the "second half" we hear more from Mo about her company, Watch This Sp_ce and the work they do with organisations . Mo leaves us with her three “key take-aways" of: (1) empathy for others (2) we all have things to learn (3) challenge yourself

A warm welcome to episode 30 where our guest is Meredith Foster talking a life in music. In the "first half" we hear from Meredith about how he first started playing the piano aged 5, before attending the Royal Academy of Music and then becoming a music teacher. Our "half time" this week looks at Masters sport, something highly worthwhile for anyone looking to return to or maintain their love of a particular activity. In the "second half" we hear more from Meredith about his music career since retirement and the differences he experienced between that of professional and amateur music. Meredith leaves us with his three “key take-aways" of: (1) Understanding (2) Compassion (3) Joy & discovery

A warm welcome to episode 29 where our guest is Sean Hambrook talking a plan for retirement. In the "first half" we hear from Sean about his childhood in Brighton, through studying at Brighton Polytechnic to a career in civil engineering. Our "half time" this week looks at trusting your guts and listening to your invoice through stillness, silence, and solitude. In the "second half" we hear more from Sean about the plan for retirement: what is enough? How do you contribute? How do you keep learning? Who keeps you change? What do you value? How do you spend your time? Sean leaves us with his three “key take-aways" of: (1) what is enough (of a particular thing e.g. money) to do what you want (2) consider your choices and your opportunity cost (Ie you what you’ll have to sacrifice); and (3) find great people with him to spend your time.

Welcome to episode 28 where our guest is Helen Aston, former COO of The Pensions Regulator, talking a career as a Non-Executive Director (NED). In the "first half" we hear from Helen about her journey from her schooling in Wigan via working for PWC in Manchester and London to become Executive Director for non-Departmental Body The Pensions Regulator in Brighton. Our "half time" this weeks at rest, the stopping of activity, and how this is so important and yet different from recovery, which can and often does involve activity of some form. In the "second half" we hear more from Helen on her decision to change the focus of her career and become a NED. Helen leaves us with her three (actually four!) "key take-aways" of: (1) Different is good - use this to your advantage (2) You don't need a career plan - try new things (3) Everything happens for a reason (4) Spend time with different people