Ep. 40: Lessons from Legends: Stories of Performance with Dr. Duncan Simpson and Dr. Greg Young

In this week’s episode, we dove deep into a fascinating blend of sport autobiographies and performance psychology with Dr. Duncan Simpson and Dr. Greg Young, the minds behind the Performers Podcast. Their unique approach to dissecting the lives of legendary athletes through a psychological lens offers invaluable lessons for anyone aiming to enhance their performance, in sports or any field.

Dr. Duncan Simpson and Dr. Greg Young have an incredibly deep well of experience within the realm of performance psychology. Duncan brings over 18 years of experience in sport psychology and athlete development, having worked with everyone from NCAA athletes to Olympians. Greg, equally experienced, has spent a decade applying his sport psychology expertise across various sports, helping athletes conquer mental barriers to perform at their best.

Core Lessons

The idea for their podcast sprang from a shared passion for autobiographies and a realization about the rich psychological insights these narratives held. By combining their academic backgrounds and practical experiences, Duncan and Greg created a platform where the stories of high performers are not just told but analyzed to uncover broader psychological truths.

Throughout their first 24 episodes, Duncan and Greg have distilled several core lessons that resonate across all levels of performance:

1. Resilience - The ability to bounce back from setbacks is a common thread among the best performers.

2. Clear Goal Setting - Successful athletes don’t just work hard; they work toward clearly defined goals.

3. Self-Belief - A deep belief in your skills and your capacity to do hard things often sets high achievers apart from the rest.

4. Valuing Relationships - No one reaches the top alone; a robust support system is crucial.

5. Continuous Learning - The best performers know they did their best today and are hungry to continue doing better tomorrow.

Actionable Takeaways

In our chat, we discussed how legends like Kobe Bryant and Mark Messier exemplify these lessons. Kobe’s meticulous preparation and relentless pursuit of excellence underpin the lesson of continuous learning, while Messier’s leadership and emphasis on team dynamics highlight the importance of investing in relationships.

To bring these insights home, here are a few actionable steps you can implement in your daily routines:

• Embrace Challenges as Opportunities: Whether they won or lost, the greats view each challenge as a chance to learn and grow. Take the time to step back after each performance and hunt for where you have improved, and what steps you can take to improve in the future.

• Set Specific Goals: Define clear, achievable goals to maintain focus and direction in your training. With bigger goals, break things down into smaller, more manageable, chunks. Always give yourself a very next step (one small, clear, and behavior-based action to move you forward).

• Cultivate a Growth Mindset: Allow yourself the space to fail and learn, much like I did when I tried hockey for the first time. Reminder yourself regularly that mistakes, setbacks, and not getting what you want are actually the secret sauce (along with deliberate practice) that allow you to accelerate your development.

• Build and Maintain Strong Relationships: Whether it’s family, friends, coaches, or teammates, invest time and energy into connecting with your support network. Whether it’s hanging out to help relieve stress or coaching your support system so they know how to balance encouragement and accountability, you can’t (and shouldn’t try) to do it alone!

• Commit to Lifelong Learning: Stay curious and open to new experiences and knowledge. The best performers are always looking - both inside and outside the box - to find their next growth edge.

Our conversation with Duncan and Greg not only highlighted how the stories of past greats could inform our present endeavors but also reminded us of the power of a well-rounded approach to performance psychology. As Duncan mentioned during the show, success leaves clues. Whether you’re an aspiring athlete, a coach, or just someone passionate about personal development, there’s immense value in looking back to forge ahead.

Learn More

Dr. Duncan Simpson LinkedIn | X
Greg Young LinkedIn
Performers Podcast Instagram

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