A BIT ABOUT ME

As a kid, all I wanted to be was an All Black. I first got to realise that dream in 2003, when I made my New Zealand debut, and went on to live it for 12 more years, playing international rugby. I had the taste to compete at the highest level, but I didn’t want to be just another All Black; I had this desire to be a great. And to be a great, you need to play at the highest level over a considerable period of time.

MAKE SURE YOU’RE THE LAST MAN STANDING

To be the best in the world, you have to work harder than everyone else in the world; that was my philosophy. Nothing I achieved was about fluke – it was all about the work ethic. I always took pride in making sure I was the last player left in training. And each and every time I train, I train to be the best.

KEEP YOUR FEET ON THE GROUND – LITERALLY
In my third season, I was named World Player of the Year. After that, Steve Tew, the CEO of the All Blacks, used to come up to me and kick my feet. As in, he would physically kick them. After a few times, I asked: “Why did you do that?” and he explained he was making sure my feet were still on the ground. Every year, every time he saw me, he’d kick my feet. It was a nice touch. When things are going well, surrounding yourself with people who can remind you about this stuff is really important.

HARNESS THE NOW

We all waste energy reliving the past. I have worked on learning to focus and bring myself into the moment. It could be when lining up a kick, or concerning anything in life. Often, I just breathe to bring myself back into the present – something as simple as that; a routine and a process. Suddenly, you’re nailing tasks, and you find your confidence and performances improve immensely.

GUT TO GREAT

There are times when play can feel a little robotic, especially with all the strategy in use. However, part of my success occurred because I bet on my gut feeling; some moments were completely unplanned and just happened – perfectly. Trust, and back, your instinct.