ELITE ATHLETE | PERFORMANCE COACH | P.E. TEACHER
Learning never stops. In fact, after leaving school, there’s often more to learn than ever before. But the earlier we instill a philosophy of lifelong learning in young people, the better. Professional athletes, for instance, make lifelong learning a habit from an early age because they understand that peak performance cannot be sustained without it.
Readers of my previous blogs will be familiar with my philosophy of "there is no destination," which has guided me throughout my journey in sports, business, and education. To me, "there is no destination" means there’s always more to achieve—it pushes me to constantly search for ways to improve.
In athletics, even after months of intense training, any improvement might be measured in a split second. The margins are incredibly small. I’ve learned to appreciate those tiny victories while also enjoying the process of learning. Making learning fun, celebrating incremental progress, and making lifelong learning a habit—these are principles I carry with me from the track into my role as an Elite Performance Coach at BISS Puxi.
Lifelong Learning for the Tough Times:
Adopting lifelong learning as a habit is easier said than done. It requires discipline, perseverance, and, often, comes from pushing through tough experiences rather than just reading a book. Fortunately, I’ve had plenty of tough experiences to help me develop that mindset.
As a young, ambitious athlete, I was obsessed with breaking the sub-11 second barrier in the 100m, a benchmark for youth-level athletes at the time. (This is different from the world-class sub-10-second mark.) In 1994, everything was lined up for me to break that barrier—I’d had a great winter training program, was in peak physical condition, and both my coach and teammates were confident I’d succeed. Yet, I didn’t make it.
I couldn’t understand it. There seemed to be no logical reason why I couldn’t break that sub-11-second mark after all the months of hard work. I was devastated. While my coach encouraged me, I knew deep down that even they were disappointed. It was in that moment, when I hit a wall I couldn’t break through, that the wisdom gained from years of experience and the habit of lifelong learning kicked in.
My first instinct was to push harder, channeling my frustration into more intense effort. We made adjustments to my technique, and my performance improved, but I still couldn’t break the sub-11 mark. In one race, I gave it everything I had, yet I still came up just short—11.01 seconds. I felt miserable. It seemed like no matter how hard I tried, no matter what conditions I ran in, I couldn’t reach my goal.
But that was the turning point. I realized the missing piece wasn’t just pushing harder—it was embracing the lifelong learning process. My fixation on the goal had made me overly focused on the numbers, and while that approach had taken me far, it wasn’t enough to push me to peak performance. To break that barrier, I had to reconnect with the why of athletics, to enjoy the process, and to celebrate the tiny progress I was making.
Refocusing on the philosophy of "there is no destination" allowed me to push past my limitations. In the (not-so-glamorous) surroundings of Blackpool Athletics Stadium, at the English Schools Championships, I finally ran a sub-11 time—10.66 seconds.
Don’t get me wrong, breaking the sub-11 mark felt fantastic. But had I not embraced the lifelong learning mindset—enjoying the process, celebrating small wins, and focusing on improvement—I may never have reached that goal. To this day, whenever I hit a wall, I remember that moment and know how to push through. At BISS Puxi, I ensure that students are always stretched to be their best. This sometimes brings challenging moments, but with the right coaching, they grow stronger because of it.
Lifelong Learning: From Good to Great
Lifelong learning is essential not only in tough times, but also when you start achieving success. Again, my philosophy of "there is no destination" keeps me striving for improvement, and it can do the same for you.
When I won the Junior European Championship and earned my gold medal, I had reached one of my major goals as an athlete. I was respected by my peers and received a lot of praise. It was a dream come true—but it also became a dangerous comfort zone that could hinder further progress.
I knew that in order to grow, I needed to push myself outside of that comfort zone. To continue improving, I had to train with athletes who were better than me. Peak performance isn’t just about hard work; it’s about making difficult decisions and having the courage to have challenging conversations.
Coach Wayne Morant and the team of athletes I trained with played a huge role in my success up to that point. We had worked hard together and shared both successes and failures. I owe much of who I am to those experiences. But, deep down, I knew that in order to take the next step, I had to leave this group and find new challenges.
This wasn’t an easy decision. I had to leave a group that had supported me, and I worried about how my coach and teammates would perceive my decision. Would they think I was arrogant? Or ungrateful? Fortunately, my relationship with Coach Wayne had always been built on the foundation of lifelong learning. We were both committed to constantly improving, and when I framed the conversation around that, he understood my desire to keep growing.
I eventually spent time in the US, working with sprint legends like Tyson Gay, Veronica Campbell, and Debbie Ferguson. Together, we pushed each other to new heights. Now, at BISS Puxi, I aim to stretch my student-athletes in the same way. Through competitions like the Nord Anglia Games, they quickly realize that there’s always someone out there better than them—and if they don’t find them, those athletes will find them!
In athletics, even after months of intense training, any improvement might be measured in a split second. The margins are incredibly small. I’ve learned to appreciate those tiny victories while also enjoying the process of learning. Making learning fun, celebrating incremental progress, and making lifelong learning a habit—these are principles I carry with me from the track into my role as an Elite Performance Coach at BISS Puxi.
Lifelong Learning for the Tough Times:
Adopting lifelong learning as a habit is easier said than done. It requires discipline, perseverance, and, often, comes from pushing through tough experiences rather than just reading a book. Fortunately, I’ve had plenty of tough experiences to help me develop that mindset.
As a young, ambitious athlete, I was obsessed with breaking the sub-11 second barrier in the 100m, a benchmark for youth-level athletes at the time. (This is different from the world-class sub-10-second mark.) In 1994, everything was lined up for me to break that barrier—I’d had a great winter training program, was in peak physical condition, and both my coach and teammates were confident I’d succeed. Yet, I didn’t make it.
I couldn’t understand it. There seemed to be no logical reason why I couldn’t break that sub-11-second mark after all the months of hard work. I was devastated. While my coach encouraged me, I knew deep down that even they were disappointed. It was in that moment, when I hit a wall I couldn’t break through, that the wisdom gained from years of experience and the habit of lifelong learning kicked in.
My first instinct was to push harder, channeling my frustration into more intense effort. We made adjustments to my technique, and my performance improved, but I still couldn’t break the sub-11 mark. In one race, I gave it everything I had, yet I still came up just short—11.01 seconds. I felt miserable. It seemed like no matter how hard I tried, no matter what conditions I ran in, I couldn’t reach my goal.
But that was the turning point. I realized the missing piece wasn’t just pushing harder—it was embracing the lifelong learning process. My fixation on the goal had made me overly focused on the numbers, and while that approach had taken me far, it wasn’t enough to push me to peak performance. To break that barrier, I had to reconnect with the why of athletics, to enjoy the process, and to celebrate the tiny progress I was making.
Refocusing on the philosophy of "there is no destination" allowed me to push past my limitations. In the (not-so-glamorous) surroundings of Blackpool Athletics Stadium, at the English Schools Championships, I finally ran a sub-11 time—10.66 seconds.
Don’t get me wrong, breaking the sub-11 mark felt fantastic. But had I not embraced the lifelong learning mindset—enjoying the process, celebrating small wins, and focusing on improvement—I may never have reached that goal. To this day, whenever I hit a wall, I remember that moment and know how to push through. At BISS Puxi, I ensure that students are always stretched to be their best. This sometimes brings challenging moments, but with the right coaching, they grow stronger because of it.
Lifelong Learning: From Good to Great
Lifelong learning is essential not only in tough times, but also when you start achieving success. Again, my philosophy of "there is no destination" keeps me striving for improvement, and it can do the same for you.
When I won the Junior European Championship and earned my gold medal, I had reached one of my major goals as an athlete. I was respected by my peers and received a lot of praise. It was a dream come true—but it also became a dangerous comfort zone that could hinder further progress.
I knew that in order to grow, I needed to push myself outside of that comfort zone. To continue improving, I had to train with athletes who were better than me. Peak performance isn’t just about hard work; it’s about making difficult decisions and having the courage to have challenging conversations.
Coach Wayne Morant and the team of athletes I trained with played a huge role in my success up to that point. We had worked hard together and shared both successes and failures. I owe much of who I am to those experiences. But, deep down, I knew that in order to take the next step, I had to leave this group and find new challenges.
This wasn’t an easy decision. I had to leave a group that had supported me, and I worried about how my coach and teammates would perceive my decision. Would they think I was arrogant? Or ungrateful? Fortunately, my relationship with Coach Wayne had always been built on the foundation of lifelong learning. We were both committed to constantly improving, and when I framed the conversation around that, he understood my desire to keep growing.
I eventually spent time in the US, working with sprint legends like Tyson Gay, Veronica Campbell, and Debbie Ferguson. Together, we pushed each other to new heights. Now, at BISS Puxi, I aim to stretch my student-athletes in the same way. Through competitions like the Nord Anglia Games, they quickly realize that there’s always someone out there better than them—and if they don’t find them, those athletes will find them!
The Science of Lifelong Learning and the "No Destination" Mindset
Studies in neuroscience and psychology support the idea that embracing continuous learning can enhance performance, creativity, and resilience. Research has shown that a "growth mindset"—the belief that abilities can be developed through hard work, good strategies, and feedback—leads to greater achievement in all areas of life, from sports to business. Carol Dweck, a leading psychologist, defines this mindset as essential for overcoming obstacles and pushing through failures.
Similarly, research in neuroplasticity suggests that the brain remains malleable throughout life. When we engage in lifelong learning, we are constantly strengthening neural connections, which allows us to adapt and grow. This aligns with the "no destination" mindset: by focusing on the process of improvement, rather than fixating on a final goal, we continually build our capacity for growth.
