52. Values, Leadership & Football with Michael Thwaite
06/14/21 • 0 min
Michael Thwaite is an athlete, a businessman, a husband and a father. While his successes include playing for professional teams all over the world and marrying his high school sweetheart, he has had to deal with all kinds of disappointments and delays in his life and career as well. A few years ago – he made the decision to put his family first at this point in his life, recognizing that his children won’t be small forever – so he wants to be there for them. In today’s episode, he gives us insight into his values as a leader and the habits he has adopted in order to cultivate those values.
He has pushed through many disappointments and come out the other side a humbler, but stronger person. Now he’s taking on the challenge of working in his community as a disability support worker – helping people with disabilities get involved in sport. Michael is a leader in the truest sense of the word as he exemplifies a positive attitude even in his darkest moments. I chat with him about some of his major accomplishments and how he was able to get through his lowest moments. His answers might surprise you... Michael Thwaite has had a rollercoaster- career, but he wouldn’t change a single thing if that would mean he’d end up anywhere other than right where he’s at now in his life.
Discussion Points
- Michael Thwaite’s career
- Michael’s start in soccer
- Values that drive Michael
- Michael’s journey as a leader
- Habits Michael adopted to reach his goals
- Learning from failure
- Dealing with mental health struggles
- Resilience patterns
- Michael’s new role as disability support worker
- Michael’s thoughts on social media
- That’s football business
- Biggest challenge in Michael’s career
- Michael’s greatest career highlight
- What’s next for Michael?
Resources
The Culture of Leadership Podcast Website
The Culture of Leadership LinkedIn
The Culture of Leadership Facebook Page
The Culture of Leadership YouTube Channel
The Culture of Leadership Instagram
If you have any questions for Brendan around this episode or generally around culture, leadership or teamwork, feel free to contact him here.
Michael Thwaite is an athlete, a businessman, a husband and a father. While his successes include playing for professional teams all over the world and marrying his high school sweetheart, he has had to deal with all kinds of disappointments and delays in his life and career as well. A few years ago – he made the decision to put his family first at this point in his life, recognizing that his children won’t be small forever – so he wants to be there for them. In today’s episode, he gives us insight into his values as a leader and the habits he has adopted in order to cultivate those values.
He has pushed through many disappointments and come out the other side a humbler, but stronger person. Now he’s taking on the challenge of working in his community as a disability support worker – helping people with disabilities get involved in sport. Michael is a leader in the truest sense of the word as he exemplifies a positive attitude even in his darkest moments. I chat with him about some of his major accomplishments and how he was able to get through his lowest moments. His answers might surprise you... Michael Thwaite has had a rollercoaster- career, but he wouldn’t change a single thing if that would mean he’d end up anywhere other than right where he’s at now in his life.
Discussion Points
- Michael Thwaite’s career
- Michael’s start in soccer
- Values that drive Michael
- Michael’s journey as a leader
- Habits Michael adopted to reach his goals
- Learning from failure
- Dealing with mental health struggles
- Resilience patterns
- Michael’s new role as disability support worker
- Michael’s thoughts on social media
- That’s football business
- Biggest challenge in Michael’s career
- Michael’s greatest career highlight
- What’s next for Michael?
Resources
The Culture of Leadership Podcast Website
The Culture of Leadership LinkedIn
The Culture of Leadership Facebook Page
The Culture of Leadership YouTube Channel
The Culture of Leadership Instagram
If you have any questions for Brendan around this episode or generally around culture, leadership or teamwork, feel free to contact him here.
Previous Episode
51. The Culture of Lifelong Learning
Today’s guest on this episode of The Culture of Leadership is Dr. Wilma Slenders. She is an expert management consultant with many years of experience in helping leaders realise their potential and better themselves through empathy and change management in their businesses.
We explore the idea of Lifetime Employability versus Lifelong employment and how that affects the mindset and work ethic of employees. This again, has a direct impact on the culture of an organisation. They discuss how important it is for leaders to see their actions through the eyes of their employees in order to ensure that they make decisions that will benefit the company as a whole – including all its employees.
This episode is packed with brilliant examples that explain the reasoning behind the theories and on top of that, Dr. Slenders shares some really exciting news about her upcoming book.
Discussion Points
- Dr. Slenders’ road to becoming a leadership consultant
- Lifetime Employability vs Lifelong employment
- Benefits of having Lifetime employability mindset
- Skills required for lifetime employability
- Change agility
- Relationships and trust during times of change
- Leaders and Empathy
- Dr. Slenders’ book
- Dr. Slenders’ Advice to leaders
Resources
The Culture of Leadership Podcast Website
The Culture of Leadership LinkedIn
The Culture of Leadership Facebook Page
The Culture of Leadership YouTube Channel
The Culture of Leadership Instagram
Transcend Management Advisors Inc
Dr. Wilma Slenders LinkedIn Page
Transcend Management Advisors Inc Facebook Page
If you have any questions for Brendan around this episode or generally around culture, leadership or teamwork, feel free to contact him here.
Next Episode
53. The Story of My Broken Soldier
Karen and Matt Page have walked through some tumultuous times together, to say the least. It all began after Matt suffered a traumatic brain injury during his military deployment. Unfortunately, the accident turned out to be only the beginning of some of the most difficult times in their lives – putting a massive strain on their marriage and family life. Karen wrote the book “My Broken Soldier” as part of her healing process, sharing some of the deepest, darkest moments of their family’s struggle. Matt and Karen both join me on today’s episode, sharing some of how they dealt with some incredibly difficult periods in Matt’s healing process and what they feel helped them get through it all.
They have now made it their personal mission to make sure that they help other families in the same situation get access to the help they need sooner and more efficiently. The stigma that surrounds mental health in Australia and the world needs to end – and they believe that talking about one’s experiences more openly will be the key to unlocking this change in society. This, in turn, will help families struggling with mental health issues realize that they aren’t as isolated as they might feel. Reading Karen’s book has touched me deeply, and opened my eyes to the nearly impossible strength that it took for this couple to get as far as they have – and still be working together to live their best lives. I am grateful for their presence on today’s episode and I hope that this platform will help spread their powerful message to people who need to hear it!
Discussion Points
- The motivation behind the book
- Matt’s accident
- The comedy of errors post the accident
- The many other people in the same situation
- Matt’s healing process
- Managing mental health
- Realizing your worth
- Dealing with tough moments
- Karen’s relationship with her dad
- Matt becoming “dad” to Karen’s daughters
- The process of having a baby
- Opening up about difficult times – ask for help
- Working to help others in the same situation
- Transitioning from defence back into civilian life
- Matt & Karen’s advice to other families
Resources
The Culture of Leadership Podcast Website
The Culture of Leadership LinkedIn
The Culture of Leadership Facebook Page
The Culture of Leadership YouTube Channel
The Culture of Leadership Instagram
Kaz Page/My Broken Soldier Website
My broken Soldier Facebook page
If you have any questions for Brendan around this episode or generally around culture, leadership or teamwork, feel free to contact him here.
If you like this episode you’ll love
Episode Comments
Generate a badge
Get a badge for your website that links back to this episode
<a href="https://goodpods.com/podcasts/culture-of-leadership-314594/52-values-leadership-and-football-with-michael-thwaite-45445717"> <img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/goodpods-images-bucket/badges/generic-badge-1.svg" alt="listen to 52. values, leadership & football with michael thwaite on goodpods" style="width: 225px" /> </a>
Copy