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Episode 45 Harlequins Rugby Club – Life after Sport

by | Nov 23, 2021 | Business Conversations, Podcast | 0 comments

Episode 45 Harlequins Rugby Club - Life after sport Toby Freeman
Harlequins Rugby Club, the analogies between sport and business are commonplace. We talk about being at the top of our game, we toss ballpark figures around, we put the ball in someone else’s court. We have teams and coaches.  

Harlequins Rugby Club, the analogies between sport and business are commonplace. We talk about being at the top of our game, we toss ballpark figures around, we put the ball in someone else’s court. We have teams and coaches.  

In this podcast episode, Michael’s guest is someone who was a professional sportsman and has now transitioned into the world of business and finance. He may not use all the analogies, but he does talk about the lessons learned and how he now applies them to his new career.  

Toby Freeman was a professional rugby player, who ended his career at a high point – playing for the Harlequins.  

Index:


Second career – LIFE AFTER SPORT

Unlike many professionals who expect their career to last their entire working life, sportspeople know that they will retire at a relatively early age. Toby had already begun to think about what direction he might go in a couple of years before making the move. He and Michael talked about the process he went through. There were some clear phases he went through from not wanting to think about retirement, to realizing he needed a plan but not knowing what that was, to having a plan and taking action.

Pursuing goals 

Some people have a clear dream of their ideal life from an early age and pursue it. Others develop their dreams more gradually, or maybe even accidentally. But once you know what you want to do, the direction you want to go in, you need determination and persistence to achieve it. As Toby says, “If you’re stubborn enough, for long enough” then you can achieve a lot. For him, that meant a place in the Harlequins, playing top-level rugby.  

Now he’s applying a similar ethos to developing his second career. He knows it won’t all be easy or plain sailing, but his experience of putting in the work in sport is standing him in good stead now that he has turned his talents to financial planning.

rugby club: Lessons about leadership 

The success or failure of leadership is very clear in sports. It can be measured in goals scored, records beaten, championships won or lost. Toby talks about the lessons he learned as a younger player, watching more established players, watching the coaches, seeing what worked and what didn’t. Now he coaches in his spare time and he’s able to apply these lessons practically on the rugby pitch. But how do they relate to business in general and his work in particular? Listen in to hear more about how he applies important lessons from his past to help him with his current role.

Financial education for entrepreneurs

Michael shares with Toby some of his own experiences about financial education, and they talk about the importance of taking ownership of your own financial future. Toby is clear that there are no one-size-fits-all solutions for his clients. He is always keen to listen to them talk, not just about their current situation, but about their hopes and dreams for the future.

Each person is unique, and their financial plan must work for them. This means being educated about possibilities and options, not just buying a product that may or may not achieve the outcome they want. Some people may, for example, be best served by amalgamating all their pensions into one pot. Other people may benefit more from a different plan. 

Whatever the situation, nothing will happen without a plan. Just as you may plan your marketing campaign or your supply chain for your business, you need to plan your personal financial future.


About Michael

Michael Crane Live Podcast

Michael Crane

Entrepreneur, Business Owner, Presenter

Michael has built and runs a successful business for the last twenty years. He’s learned many lessons—some of them the hard way—and he’s met and talked with many other businesspeople. He’s sold thousands of products and learnt the one hundred and one things needed to run a thriving business. Now he’s bringing this knowledge and experience to educate, motivate and inspire other entrepreneurs.