#18 - Curtis Bradford - Control the Controllables

From growing up playing rugby in Wales, to coaching across Europe and Australia, to now leading the German women’s national Sevens team, this is the story of Curtis Bradford.In this episode, John and Konsti sit down with Curtis to explore his journey from a self-proclaimed ‘average’ player to an internationally respected coach. They dive into the philosophy that has guided him through highs and lows: balancing ambition with perspective, controlling what you can control, and proving that kindness and daring are not opposites but complements in leadership.Key Takeaways and Highlights* Control What You Can Control: Curtis explains why his “game day” isn’t Saturday but Tuesday morning training: “I’m way more nervous for a Tuesday training session than a Saturday game. That’s my game time. What happens on the pitch on Saturday is out of my control.” By focusing on preparation and things in his control, pressure on outcomes naturally decreases.* Balance Ambition with Perspective: Despite historic wins (like the German women’s team’s first-ever victory over France), Curtis credits his life and relationships with keeping him grounded: “I told my fiancée we won. She asked, is that good then?” Winning matters, but life outside the field puts results in perspective.* Training as Chaos, Not Repetition: Curtis designs training sessions that constantly challenge players instead of relying on rote drills: “I don’t want us to be 100% successful in training. I want training to be hard, so that the game feels easier.” This philosophy mirrors business: true growth comes from getting out of your comfort zone and solving new problems, not repeating old ones.* Alignment and Storytelling: Whether coaching in Graz, Neuenheim, or with Germany, Curtis always seeks to create a shared story that players believe in: “People don’t want a PowerPoint presentation. Instead, I like to create stories. I call it ‘theming’, like going North for battle, with Game of Thrones music playing in the background, so players feel part of the story.”* Care and Dare: Curtis embraces tough decisions, like benching close friends for the good of the team, with transparency and empathy: “The hardest thing you do as a coach is team selection. But if you care deeply and explain your reasoning, players buy into your decision.” His philosophy mirrors the Care to Dare leadership model: 100% caring, 100% daring.* Future-Back Thinking: Curtis applies long-term visioning, like working backwards from Olympic qualification in 2028: “People don’t want to get on a bus if they don’t know where it’s going. You need a clear destination and then reverse-engineer how to get there.”Enjoy the show! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit careersandcharacter.substack.com