Shaun Short: Do Breaks Help or Hurt Performance?

Overcoming Hurdles to Olympic Glory Lucy Hatton’s story is one of resilience, grit, and breaking through barriers 3rd Fastest Sprint Hurdler in British History, Lucy didn’t have an easy ride to the top As a young girl, she was faced with the challenge of severe dyslexia, a hurdle that made learning in school feel like an uphill battle Despite working harder than her peers, the results were often minimal but that never stopped her At just 9 years old, Lucy found her escape, a place where her relentless effort could truly shine: the track It was here, in the world of hurdles, that Lucy finally saw a return on the hard work she’d poured into every step of her life It wasn’t just about crossing the finish line, it was about breaking through the walls that had been built around her But her journey wasn’t all smooth sailing Like so many athletes, Lucy faced toxic environments, mental health struggles, and physical setbacks that would have stopped most people in their tracks Injuries threatened to derail her dreams, but her passion for hurdling and her unwavering belief in herself kept her pushing forward On today’s episode of Always Another Game, we dive deep into Lucy’s inspiring journey We explore powerful topics like: Overcoming the obstacles of dyslexia in a world that doesn’t always accommodate The mental and emotional toll of toxic environments in sport Dealing with the pain of injuries and the mental resilience required to come back stronger Navigating the loss of your sporting superpowers and finding a new identity beyond the track Lucy’s story is a testament to the power of perseverance, the importance of mental health, and the ability to find your way back even when it feels like all is lost This episode is more than just a sports story it’s a journey of transformation, overcoming adversity, and learning how to rise above the challenges life throws at you This is an episode you won’t want to miss Hit play now, and let Lucy’s journey inspire you to tackle your own hurdles Tune in now and get your special podcast time started Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/thebehaviourchangecoach/ Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCaK2B2-yhQvAN9UN6d7Ikvw Website - www.thebehaviourchangecoach.co.uk  

North Star Thinking Let me ask you something: Have you ever thought about how the Three Wise Men found their way? They followed the North Star But here’s the thing… The North Star wasn’t the destination It was the guide to get there… And that’s exactly what today’s guest is all about Will Polston is an absolute powerhouse not only coaching others to greatness but with one of the most audacious goals you’ve ever heard:  to go to space by the end of the decade! Will and I go way back He used to play Ice Hockey with my brother, and my mum even managed his team when they were younger And in this episode? We drop golden nugget after golden nugget on how you should: ⭐️ Aim WAY bigger than your wildest dreams ⭐️ Set your goals and work backwards ⭐️ Choose lightning moments over lightbulb ideas But here’s the kicker — this isn’t just theory It’s action that gets results So, what are you going to do with this knowledge working backwards? 👉🏼 Take over the world 👉🏼 Listen to the podcast 👉🏼 Download the podcast 👉🏼 Open Spotify/Apple/YouTube 👉🏼 Finish reading this post You’re this close to igniting a shift in your life but only if you act NOW Come join us for some out of this world thinking   Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/thebehaviourchangecoach/ Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCaK2B2-yhQvAN9UN6d7Ikvw Website - www.thebehaviourchangecoach.co.uk

Why Performance Optimisation is more than just skills... Most people think success comes down to; 👉🏼 Focus your skills in one area 👉🏼 Work harder 👉🏼 Work More game over, right? ❌ Wrong High performers don’t just rely on skill They optimise their body, mind, and energy like a Formula 1 car Because at the highest level, skill gets you in the game but performance keeps you winning (and who doesn't love to keep winning) 🔥 If your nervous system is fried, your decision-making tanks 🔥 If your recovery sucks, your execution slows down 🔥 If your energy is drained, you’re leaving opportunities on the table That’s why in the Always Another Game Podcast Episode today, I break down what separates those who burn out from those who dominate long-term We go beyond tactics and I share the key reasons why I never reached my peak in Ice Hockey And how I use those losses to fuel my success today Peak performance isn’t just about knowing what to do It’s about having the energy, resilience, and clarity to do it at the highest level, every single time If you want to stop playing the game and start owning it, this is the episode for you     Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/thebehaviourchangecoach/ Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCaK2B2-yhQvAN9UN6d7Ikvw Website - www.thebehaviourchangecoach.co.uk

Sport like Life is Unpredictable...   Even the best preparation can unfold at a blink of an eye   And in today’s Shaun Short episode I share real life sporting stories about how this is just the case   You have no idea what is around the corner   But you can put yourself in the right position to handle it   Because with the right:   👉🏼 Skills 👉🏼 Mindset 👉🏼 Second tier preparation   You will be able to adapt and overcome anything Life, Sport and Business throws at you   Are you ready to take prepare for the unexpected   what are you waiting for?   I’ll meet you over on the episode   Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/thebehaviourchangecoach/ Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCaK2B2-yhQvAN9UN6d7Ikvw Website - www.thebehaviourchangecoach.co.uk

Rugby: “I didn’t want to die” - A battle with Cocaine   Today’s guest has seen success in many areas of his life   From representing Harlequins in Rugby   To landing a successful role in London in life after he finished playing   But that pursuit took Kent Bray down a road that he wasn’t expecting   He always wondered “what’s next?”   Until the day that question took him towards a coping mechanism that he had never tried before   Which led him down the path of Cocaine addiction spending 80k a year on this drug   Even though he knew what was happening he wasn’t able to stop it as he had ran out of steam   And through the community in his sport he is able to share his story today   Where he now helps young men with counselling and mentoring to ensure they don’t make the same early mistakes he did   Let’s ruck up together and check out this incredible episode   Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/thebehaviourchangecoach/ Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCaK2B2-yhQvAN9UN6d7Ikvw Website - www.thebehaviourchangecoach.co.uk

A Midlife Crisis at 11 years old with Mo Farrah’s training partner   Safe to say today’s guest kept me on my toes with this interview   Because if a challenging childhood wasn’t enough of going through Alopecia and succumbing to bullying   Adam Strong went through what he described a Mid Life crisis at 11 years old   Growing up in a council estate with not much money   Adam found his entrepreneurial feet by selling golf balls he found In the stream   Not only that this below average athlete decided to take up long distance running   Which took him to a place that he never knew he needed   And he became not only Mo Farrah’s training partner but a friend of the Mo Bot too   There is no time to waste   Lace up those spikes and run on over to check this awesome episode out     Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/thebehaviourchangecoach/ Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCaK2B2-yhQvAN9UN6d7Ikvw Website - www.thebehaviourchangecoach.co.uk

Tackling life after sport head on…   On today’s episode I have the pleasure of sitting down with a guest who shares the same values of the Always Another Game Podcast   Spanning over a 15 year career in Rugby this guests knows the importance of planning for life after the game has finished   And through his business Front Row Support he is helping athletes prepare for arguably one of the biggest changes in their life   Ladies and Gentleman I want to introduce you to Charlie Beech   On this episode we talk about how sport can do so much for us that it becomes our whole identity   And how Charlie has coped with the idea of stepping away from a sport he loves so much   Oh and I asked him maybe one of the most important sporting questions he has ever been asked   Do beards give you more strength in a game?   Come and ruck on over this one is going to be a ball     Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/thebehaviourchangecoach/ Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCaK2B2-yhQvAN9UN6d7Ikvw Website - www.thebehaviourchangecoach.co.uk

Teaching Athletes to Fill Their Mental Filing Cabinets   AAG is back with it’s first interview episode of 2025   And what better way to start than going inside the mind of someone who goes inside the athletes mind   Colin Booth and I have crossed paths recently in our Ice Hockey World   And he love and passion for his Athlete Neuro Performance is clear for everyone to see   Colin realised that X’s and O’s weren’t for him in the coaching space   And he wanted to figure out how one athlete could perform one task with ease yet another found it incredibly difficult   This work has led him to forming his own business MG1 Elite Performance   And now he gets to assists athletes improve their in game performance working on the finer details of their brain which returns an increase not only in their in play game but:   Resilience Decision Making Smarter Actions Curiosity   And arguably the most valuable   It keeps them away from society pressures of the online social and gaming world which is having a profound negative affect on young people’s brains   I know you’ve missed these   So, what are you waiting for?   Download the episode right now and catch up with our chat on your next break   Shaun     Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/thebehaviourchangecoach/ Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCaK2B2-yhQvAN9UN6d7Ikvw Website - www.thebehaviourchangecoach.co.uk

🎙 Shaun Short: Do Breaks Help or Hurt Performance? | How to Bounce Back Stronger After Time Off   After a short winter break… Always Another Game is back — and I’ve got a big question for you: 👉🏼 Are breaks always a good thing? In this episode, we’re diving into one of the most overlooked aspects of peak performance in both sport and life what actually happens when you stop, rest, and step away For some? Breaks lead to recovery, clarity, and comeback energy For others? They lead to lost momentum, mental friction, and performance anxiety   ⚡ Here’s what you’ll walk away with: — Why time off isn’t always the solution — How to rebuild flow when it feels lost — What I learned from my own breaks during my ice hockey career — The #1 mindset shift to make any break a springboard instead of a setback   Whether you're coming back from Christmas, injury, burnout or a dip in motivation this episode will give you tools to reset, refocus, and restart with purpose   🎧 Hit play now and let’s get back in the game 👇 Subscribe, share, and drop your biggest post-break insight in the comments   #ShaunShort #AlwaysAnotherGame #PeakPerformance #PostBreakSlump #HighPerformancePodcast #SportMindset #LifeAfterSport #Resilience #BreaksAndBurnout #HockeyMindset #ComebackSeason   Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/thebehaviourchangecoach/ Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCaK2B2-yhQvAN9UN6d7Ikvw Website - www.thebehaviourchangecoach.co.uk

Do you prefer Playing on the Edge?   This was something that was drilled into us at a young age   That to be up there with the best you have to play of edge   Playing safe within sport wasn’t an option to stand out and succeed   And if you think about it now everyone you likely look up to in life   In some way stands out because they dare to be different   To do things that the majority won’t do   In today’s Shaun Short episode on the Always Another Game Podcast I talk about my experience with playing on the edge   And how not only can that help you in sport   But within your business and your personal brand too   As it allows you to be your true authentic self and stand out from the crowd     Ready to push the boundaries a little bit   Go on I dare you     Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/thebehaviourchangecoach/ Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCaK2B2-yhQvAN9UN6d7Ikvw Website - www.thebehaviourchangecoach.co.uk