Overthinking Undermines Your Success HOWNHL GOALIES LIVE IN THE MOMENT
It takes a lot of guts to leave a successful corporate career to pursue a passion project. On Nov. 30, 2017, my student Nancy Connor took that leap when she closed the door on corporate America to build her inclusive fashion brand, Smart Adaptive Clothing. A STUDENT SUCCESS STORY Meet Adaptive Clothing Designer Nancy Connor
On Feb. 22, 2020, David Ayres was sitting in the stands next to his wife watching a Carolina Hurricanes hockey game. By the end of the night, this 45-year-old Zamboni driver would be the first emergency goaltender to record a win in the history of the NHL. After the Hurricane’s first two goalies were taken out of the game due to injuries, Ayres was called onto the ice. He stopped eight out of 10 shots, helping the Hurricanes claim victory. This isn’t the first time an emergency goalie has been called in to help win an NHL game. When Scott Foster, a 36-year-old accountant, was called in as an emergency goalie for a 2017 Blackhawks home game, he didn’t let a single puck past him. How are ordinary men like Ayres and Foster able to go from sitting in the bleachers to crushing it on the ice at a moment’s notice? They have the remarkable ability to thrive under pressure by not overthinking their situation. A good goalie cannot overthink anything. They must be able to assess the situation and react instantaneously to block a speeding puck. Physical training is only half the battle. Achieving true success means mastering the psychological game. This kind of mental fortitude can be valuable in business, too. “The key difference between those who get the gold medal and those who don’t is between the ears,” says Martin Turner, senior lecturer in sport and exercise psychology at Staffordshire University. “Business leaders can learn to develop robust psychological skills to help them fulfill their potential under pressure, and importantly, help others around them fulfill their potential.” How can you learn to stop yourself from overthinking during high- pressure situations? Don’t view those high-pressure situations as life or death. “It was wild; it was fun,” said Ayres after his historic win. “These guys were awesome. They said to me, ‘Have fun with it, don’t worry about how many goals go in. This is your moment — have fun with it.’” “Have fun” is exactly what Ayres did, and the Hurricanes won the game. When you find yourself overthinking a high-pressure situation, remind yourself that no matter what decision you make, it’s not the end of the world. That moment is just one of many opportunities you’ll be presented with. Above all else, keep a positive outlook. Win or lose, success or failure, being positive will always take you far.
The inspiration for the company came from Nancy’s late father.
“My dad was a professional,” she says. “After he retired, he was still someone who liked to wear a button-down shirt and slacks, nothing luxurious, but he always looked smart.” Eventually, Nancy’s father went into assisted living. There, he broke several bones and became largely immobile, which meant he was no longer able to wear the clothes he loved. The aides at the senior community didn’t want to take the time for buttons and slacks. Instead, they suggested pullover sweatshirts and sweatpants. “That’s when the lightbulb went off for me that there had to be a better way, another solution for clothing that would let people dress the way they wanted to dress and that was easy-on and easy-off for individuals and caregivers,” Nancy says. The market need was there, but Nancy still had to find her audience, build a website and social media presence, and hand-pick every fabric and button. Her business acumen and experience were vital, but she credits my Build a Business course, which she took in 2017, with helping her level up as an entrepreneur. “Brandon is amazing,” Nancy says. “He gives real-life, practical advice. It’s not just research or theory; he’s done it. It’s proven. So I continue to take his courses as they come up. I follow him and am part of his group, his tribe. I’m always excited to take any course he’s offering.” Nancy’s brand is growing rapidly, and she’s pivoted to making disability-friendly masks in addition to shirts with Velcro closures for men and women. Her brand has been featured in London Fashion Week, on "The Today Show," in Forbes magazine, and more. This summer, she contracted with a major online e-retailer, adding to her portfolio of wholesale accounts. She also joined representatives from London-based wholesaler SB Shop and Italian personal styling company Virgo Image for an international conversation called “The Future of Fashion Inclusion.”
I’m incredibly proud of how far Nancy has come in these last few years. To explore her work, visit SmartAdaptiveClothing.com.
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