Goal Digger
The Comeback Kid
Kids who play sports often dream of making it big, vividly envisioning the day they set foot on the court or field as professional. Sadly for most, the odds usually aren't in their favor and the dream fades to black as reality — life as an avid fan — fades in. But for one kid, uber fandom led to an unlikely opportunity to become a player later in life.
Last week the Dorking Wanderers, a professional soccer team in England, signed a 54-year-old super fan as a goalkeeper. With no fit goalkeepers available, the team turned to Terry Dunn, who hadn’t played professionally — or at all — in nearly three decades.
Everyone loves a good second chance story, but even Hollywood might deem this script too farfetched. Sure, Brad Pitt recently played an aging race car driver in an action-packed drama, but a film with him as an un-retired goalkeeper suiting up after 3 decades away from the game would have to be classified as a horror, where Father Time slowly stalks his Achilles heel like Jason in Friday the 13th.
Honestly, I'm kinda jealous of Dunn. I'd be stoked to get called out of the stands to play running back for any NFL team in 2025, even though it might end after two plays. Hopefully Dunn fares better than Aaron Rodgers and doesn't go down in history like Scott Sterling.
The Nerve Agent
Last week I played golf for the first time in 15 years. I am, by no means, "good" at the most humbling sport ever created, but I am good at enjoying the serene vibes a well-manicured golf course exudes, even if my ball ends up in the woods more often than the cup.
A month ago I agreed to play in an event with a friend I hadn't seen in a while. Thanks to my fear of being judged for displaying sub-par skills due to a lengthy hiatus from the game, and my desire to perform well in front of my friend — and complete strangers — I spent the whole round mentally wading through the deep waters of performance anxiety.
Although at times I treated my golf club like a shovel and moved more dirt than ball, I actually had fun and played fairly well. The self-inflicted torture eventually ended without incident, and I managed to enjoy the beautiful course and refreshing camaraderie along the way, but this whole experience reminded me of how I've seen this movie before — at work.
If you haven’t experienced it, performance anxiety is that wave of nervousness before being judged, evaluated, or put on the spot. At work, it might show up before a big presentation, a performance review, or even when speaking up in a meeting.
It’s the racing heart, sweaty palms, and spiraling thoughts that turn a paper tiger into a sabertooth, tricking your body into fight-or-flight mode. Suddenly you’re more focused on could go wrong than what you actually need to do.
If this sounds familiar — congratulations, you’re human. It means you care about how your work is received. But unchecked, performance anxiety can rob you of the present moment and trap you in a recurring nightmare like Phil Connors.
So, the next time your mind leads leads you to believe you're in the Corporate Hunger Games, try a few of these tips to calm those irrational thoughts:
Anchor in the Breath
Before a presentation or review, pause for 3–5 slow breaths. This signals to your nervous system that you’re safe.
Prepare with Presence, Not Perfection
Over-preparing fuels anxiety. Instead, review with curiosity and focus on understanding, not flawless delivery.
Shift Focus from Self to Service
Ask: How does this help others? Redirecting attention from “Will I look good?” to “Will this add value?” eases pressure.
Debrief Gently Afterwards
Instead of replaying everything you did wrong, ask: What went well? What can I adjust next time? Growth > self-criticism.
When performance anxiety flares up, it doesn’t mean you’re unprepared — it means you care. But remember, the goal in these moments isn’t perfection, it’s presence.
Anchor in the breath, focus on the facts, and let go of the imaginary bear fight your nervous system thinks it’s in. The more you practice showing up — sweaty palms and all — the steadier you’ll become.
When was the last time you felt performance anxiety at work — and what helped you move through it?
Share some wisdom. Drop a comment below.
