This is a transcript excerpt from a live Optimize Coach program coaching session (podcast) featuring Brandon Guyer. Guyer describes how he approached failure using a support system (wife/fiancé, father, teammates), sports psychologists, and reflective practices. Key tools: post-game reflection, curiosity, a 'win-or-learn' mindset, focusing on controllables, and trying to be "antifragile" — learning from setbacks to improve future performance. He emphasizes that tools help but hardship remains, and recommends supporting teammates while prioritizing personal growth.
The content you're about to hear was captured during a live coaching session in the Optimize Coach program multiple times every month. Coaches Connect live with Brian, Michael, Alexandra and members of our world class luminary guest faculty for wisdom, guidance and encouragement. For more head to Optimize Me Coach.
What tools did you use? What did you learn? What were some of that approach to failure, that change for you that helped really turn things around? It was going over this book even more reaching out to other sports psychologists Support system was huge. Having my wife at that time, she was my fiance, but my wife, my dad was always there. A lot of times he'd make an 0 for 4 games seem like a 4 for 4. So I had, you know, it wasn't just like I'm dealing with it all on my own having that support system. I could reach out to people whether they're holding me accountable, they're, you know, picking me up, which is something I needed at that time more than ever. Those little things made such a big difference. So really the tools kind of is very similar to what you guys talk about with the antifragile. I'd never heard of that word until recently, but I guess in a way I was shooting for that where no matter what is happening, positive or negative, being curious and you know, after games reflecting, okay, I didn't get a hit. But what went well? Oh, you can always find good, positive things no matter what happens, okay, what didn't go too well? What could I work on? Okay, how can I learn if I'm in the same situation again to do my put myself in the best position to succeed so it doesn't happen again knowing that the results are out of our hands. I mean anything could happen. But obviously you just want to put yourself in the absolute best position to have success. So just got curious. Did the post game reflection and the winner learn, win or learn was huge. I mean it was no doubt you can have all these tools. It's still going to be tough going through it because you're we're competitors, we want to, we work hard so we can have success. But you know, it's still going to be hard. Anyone who says, oh, you know, I have all these tools now, it's still going to be a grind. It's still going to be hard. Especially your teammates maybe are getting called up because they're having a lot of success. But really at the end of the day, worry about yourself. You know, be there, cheer for them, support them, but worry about yourself and think how can you learn from each and every situation, knowing if you do that the right way, you flip the switch on failure. Sky's the limit. Put on a rocket booster. You will take off if you approach it the right way. And I think that's the number one thing.
We hope you enjoyed that. Part of a live coaching session from the Optimize Coach program. For more info, head to Optimize Me coach.
