King's Hawaiian’s Post

Contentment, Being-in-the-Zone & Giving Back Shaun Johnson played his last rugby league game this past weekend bringing to an end a 14-year career. He will be remembered as a really good player, who potentially did not achieve as much as he could have, but definitely as one of New Zealand’s greatest. He played some of his best footy over the last couple of seasons after returning to the team he started his career with in NZ. This season was marred by injuries, but some in the game believed that he could have gone on for another year or two. Playing his last game on Saturday, Shaun led his team in a come-from-behind win producing a “miracle pass” in the last minute of the game that led to the final scoring effort helping the team win by two points. Following is a video of his press conference after the game and there are three things that stood out for me – 1. Contentment – he spoke about being content with the game, not because of what the result was but because of how he and the team played. 2. Being-in-the-Zone – he speaks about being in the zone, “in the groove”, feeling “really good”, enjoying what he and the team were doing. He was “locked-in” to execute his role, thinking beyond the emotion of the occasion. 3. Giving Back – he expressed his intent now to give back to the sport, specifically in helping young players “develop their game”, “building a program that gives them access to knowledge that I wish I had access to”. According to me, these three represent a great state-of-mind to strive for when we call it time on our chosen vocations, no matter what they are. Thank you Shaun! #shaunjohnshon #nrl #ruglyleague #lessonsfromsport #leadership #contentment #beinginthezone #stateofflow #givingback #storytelling

Below I have my latest published story for the University Star! It explores the impact of alumni involvement within club sports, more specifically, Rugby. https://lnkd.in/grDNU6AR

Rugby is a beautiful sport — here’s why… On the field, it’s war! Every pass, every tackle, every score is a battle. But the beauty of rugby? It’s more than just a “game.” Every time I take the field it feels like tapping into my Polynesian culture! Last week my rugby team went undefeated (5-0) to win the Dawgtown 7s tournament (the pic below is from getting the trophy at halftime of the Chicago Hounds Rugby game). Winning the tournament was more than just a trophy. It was a reminder of lessons I learned from rugby and Tongan culture. Here are 3 rugby & Tongan values that might help in your life… --- 1. Trust your people: “Fāmilí” (Family) Rugby is a battle. Would you go into battle with people you don’t trust? Of course not! That’s why I trust my teammates. In the same way, I think life is a battle. And I rely on my family when life gets tough. --- 2. Kill your ego: “Loto tō” (Humility) Last year, my team lost plenty of games because I got selfish — I didn’t pass the ball. Before rugby games, I try reminding myself: “it’s not about my success as an individual, it’s about our success as a team.” The same principle applies to the professional world… team success > individual success. --- 3. Pick your WHY: “Mate Ma’a Tonga” (Die for Tonga) During the game, all I care about is winning: ✅ Make the tackle ✅ Catch the pass ✅ Score the try, etc. But at the end of the day, I come back to the big question: “WHY?” My dad used to say: “Mate Ma’a Tonga (die for Tonga) means to fight for something worth dying for.” In other words, pick something worth fighting for. Let it be your family. Let it be your mission. But most importantly, let it be something worth greater than yourself. --- I'm ready to apply these values to my startup Nesian News, a media for Pacific Islanders. But the startup game is lonely — it's even lonelier as a Pacific Islander. That's why I'm bringing together 5 Pacific Islander founders who want to change the world! This isn't a passive "networking" group chat or a place to collect business cards. It's a private, close-knit circle of founders where we discuss the good, the bad, and the ugly of business. DM me if you want in.

🏀 How is the Olympic basketball team chosen? 🏅 To select the Olympic basketball team, the national governing body of each country typically organizes tryouts and training camps to identify the top players. Coaches and selection committees evaluate players based on skills, performance, experience, and fitness levels. The final roster is usually determined a few months before the Olympic Games, taking into account individual player strengths, team dynamics, and overall strategy. Players who have excelled in their professional leagues and showcased their abilities consistently are often favorites to make the Olympic team. Representing your country on the biggest stage in basketball is a great honor and privilege, and athletes work tirelessly to earn their spot on the team. Training camps and exhibitions games help the coaching staff assess player chemistry and readiness for the intense competition of the Olympics. Once the team is finalized, players begin rigorous preparation to ensure they are physically and mentally ready to compete against the best teams in the world. The quest for Olympic gold is a dream for many basketball players, and making the national team requires dedication, skill, and passion for the game. 🥇🌍🔥 #Olympics #Basketball #TeamUSA #RoadtoGold #AthleteLife

Leadership through losing the ego. I think one of the largest items missing is in this article is - Ego. Men’s rugby in Canada is plagued by egos and unwillingness to work together across the country to build our sport. Just look at the amount of transitions of leadership? Why? Why didn’t any of those passionate leaders work together other than the mentioned Cudmore / Mack era? Those two are guided by building the sport and not egos. So then we blame imports - why because they are critical which bruises egos and out goes another regime. We blame other sports competing. Really - how many nations have numerous pro sports? Aussie has soccer, rugby league, aussie rules, cycling, combat sports, cricket, the list goes on. Ok Ireland they must be all rugby? Nope. It’s like #5 on grass sports. We need to bury egos as a rugby nation and build our sport. Men have to put their egos away. Stop blaming others. We are failing - accept that. Be humble. Rebuild properly. Women’s rugby is smaller in numbers and they are working together to grow women’s rugby across the board. You have amazing people like Emma and Jack Hanratty working together to grow our sport. There are sustainable practices of bringing in new talent. Are there challenges - yup not enough super heroes gathering little duckies. Aka no clear path for excellence other than knowing someone who is connected. Leadership needs the ego to be put in a drawer. Focus on unifying and working together. Read strategy plans from late 90’s. How it transitioned long term to success (hint start with Ireland’s). Success isn’t a mystery. It’s cooperating, communicating, being passionate together.

Why Soccer? More Than Just Kicking a Ball 🥅⚽ Are you a Messi fan? Did you know that soccer is not only about kicking the ball? 🏆Discover the unique benefits of this sport that go beyond dribbling and scoring goals. Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/eTgMqjaP #Soccer #Teamwork #LifeSkills #Champions #BeyondTheGame

Attending my first live rugby match sparked a profound correlation between the rugged nature of the game and the challenges encountered in life. The attributes cultivated in rugby—toughness, patience, and the ability to withstand odds—are indispensable when confronting life's adversities. Just as players navigate the unpredictable twists and turns of the rugby field, individuals confront their own set of challenges, requiring resilience and fortitude. Drawing upon the lessons gleaned from rugby, one can gracefully maneuver through life's adverse conditions, emerging strengthened and more resilient. This correlation underscores the transformative influence of sports, empowering individuals to persevere and flourish in the face of adversity, embodying the indomitable spirit of human resilience. #keepgoing#Resilience✌️✌️

The next step in the Six Degree Sports journey - Individualized development programming with over 20 years of Case Studies ratifying efficacy at every level. Six Degree Sports USA Rugby USA Youth and High School Rugby https://lnkd.in/gr-GAupC

The Impact and Future of Women’s Rugby in North America: Progress and Key Developments