Standards. Individual and collective, determined and upheld. In sport and in life, Lindsay Peat craves the highest calibre possible.
There's a reason the all-round athlete has won an All-Ireland with Dublin and represented her country in basketball, football and rugby union. It's all in the pursuit of perfection. Expectations that are set and met. A process that is applicable on and off the field.
A huge part of her balancing act is being organised. It's the only possible solution to managing such a busy lifestyle. How Peat organises her time is key.
"It naturally develops when you start to look at things from a different perspective," Peat, the Ireland prop and an ambassador for the Coca-Cola HBC #YouthEmpowered programme, tells Balls. "There are standards to expect, both on and off the field."
With Ireland, those standards are enforced by the group as much as management. Be on time, be attentive, and for Peat, be dressed appropriately.
I have a thing about all of us being in the same gear. I’m not a Man United fan but I remember Roy Keane and Alex Ferguson having an issue with it. You wouldn't come to work without the proper attire. You should be a representative on an international stage.
We are a collective. It doesn’t take away from your personality but you have to be professional. We are all as one.
With the #YouthEmpowered programme, Lindsay presents a time management module as part of the #YouthEmpowered Digital Hub offering free online training to all recent school-leavers and job seekers.
It's about equipping job-seekers to have the tools to balance a busy life: "People have a lot to juggle. They can find it hard to juggle what is expected of them. Some times you are just trying to come up for air to go again, that's where this stuff can really help."
Peat is now a senior member in Adam Griggs squad and understands the pressures that come with such a role. Success is not only what you say but what you do. An approach not unique to sport but one she truly believes in.
Actions trump words.
You have to be evolving into that leader. That’s not always with talking, it’s with actions. They go hand in hand. That’s another thing. I don’t know whether it is just the influx of media and honing in but sometimes you have to not just say the words but back up the actions. I certainly want to do that, less talking and more action.
You learn as you go the best way to pass on those standards or make an example of them. To make sure the new group of players pass them on. There’s a quote I saw on Twitter from a sports psychologist, 'coaches can say all they want but it's the direction of their peers, what they do that makes the overall change.'
Peat expresses this sentiment with clarity and purpose. Whether it be as a parent or a performer, the same principle applies. Her career has developed these skills, like time-management and accountability. Its longevity lies in this.
When she does speak it's usually to try and garner action, such as her recent public calls for Irish rugby to assist the women's team.
This year was Ireland's worst Six Nations finish in 13 years. A stat that tells a tale as despite increasing interest and coverage the sport remains on an amateur footing and lagging behind its international counterparts.
Lindsay Peat has been a vocal advocate for programme improvements. She explains these public pleas only came after all other avenues were exhausted. The future of the women's game is at stake.
"You have to be accountable for yourself first and you can't blame anyone else.
"That's until you reach a point where you know you have reached the threshold of everything you can do. There's nothing more here to get to a higher performance level. We've covered everything and are doing it to the maximum of our ability so now you have to look elsewhere to get help.
"You start with yourself and I always say that to players. If you can't meet them you need to look at why. Sometimes it's out of your control."
It's 21 years since Lindsay Peat played football for Ireland in the U18 Euro qualifiers. Eight years later she'd make her debut for the Irish senior basketball team. By 2010 she was an All-Ireland winner in Gaelic football. Seven years later she'd secure the crown of Ireland Women's Rugby Player of the Year. She remains an integral part of that team now.
Plan, execute, evaluate. Every day the Irish star has to follow this protocol in every aspect of her life. Often times, between a gym session, work and training, it's a 17-hour shift on the go. Navigating that requires a delicate balancing act; prop, parent, partner. Her ability to do so is why she's now the ideal figure to help others develop time management skills.
A life as hectic as hers requires high-level expertise in this area.
"A challenge," Peat proclaims with a chuckle. No better woman to take it on.
Lindsay Peat is a Youth Empowered Ambassador. The #YouthEmpowered programme developed by Coca‑Cola HBC is designed to give young people access to the life and business skills they need to transition into work. It provides an important stepping stone for unemployed young people who are seeking support and training that aligns with their needs and ensures they develop the tools and skills to succeed. Now in its third year, the programme is growing from strength to strength with the growth in the #YouthEmpowered Digital Hub offering free online training to all recent school-leavers and job seekers.
Register now and improve your employability with free online training in the Art of Time Management at www.YouthEmpowered.ie
