Q
WHO WAS YOUR BIGGEST
INFLUENCE IN YOUR
SPORTING CAREER
Steve Andersen (with Kerri
Pottharst) was my coach for 16
years. Steve’s influence was
‘development by discovery’
rather than telling you what to do
(instructional). He would say “I
don’t know, you need to work it
out yourself”- a real ‘teach a man
to fish’ mentality.
WHAT ARE YOUR
STRATEGIES FOR DEALING
WITH FAILURES?
TELL US A LITTLE BIT
ABOUT NATALIE COOK
I love adventure, winning and
travel. I like to help others and
make a difference in the world
and make others lives better.
An important focus is being
big on family and bringing
everyone together – I want to
take everyone with me to the top
of the mountain. Inspiring the
next generation to dream big and
chase their dreams is important
to me. I’m a down to earth
country girl from Townsville with
a huge sense of humour.
WHAT IGNITED THE SPARK
IN YOU TO START YOUR
VOLLEYBALL JOURNEY?
There was a Volleyball trip to
Canada and America on the
school noticeboard. I was 14 at
the time and all I wanted to do
was go to Disneyland. I didn’t
know how to play volleyball. I
played lots of sports and was
a swimmer at the time - I got
sick of following the black line.
Volleyball got me as I wasn’t
naturally good at it and couldn’t
understand why I was so bad.
So then I spent the next 25 years
trying to master it.
12
Women’s Network Magazine
We sometimes lost more
volleyball matches than we won.
We often make the rules so strict
about winning and at times it
doesn’t happen, so you need to
make it your own way. There is
a need to make small wins that
are achievable, to make you feel
like a winner. What you do next is
important and character building
so we were trained to always look
forward and left it to the coach
to look at the past in order to do
things better.
WHAT ARE YOUR TOP 3
SKILLS IN BUSINESS?
Persistence, resilienc, courage,
connections and being bold
(I like to break the rules
sometimes)
Resilience is the ability to keep
going. When you arent getting
the right signals and it feels like a
‘no go’: belief, faith and trusting
in yourself is key. Your self talk
is so important, you must say it is
going to happen repeatedly until
it becomes your truth.
Make bold decisions and step out
of your comfort zone.
EXCLUDING YOURSELF,
WHO DO YOU ADMIRE THE
MOST?
Kurek Ashley, our success coach
for the Olympics when we won
gold, Hayley Birtles-Eades,
she’s got a huge personality and
everlasting energy. Greg Norman
and Michael Jordan for obvious
reasons.
WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE
TO BE MOST REMEMBERED
FOR?
Having the courage to be myself!
Being willing to say yes! Being
real, showing people that you
don’t have to be someone else.
HOW DO YOU START YOUR
DAY?
I have no alarm clock, my
daughter is my alarm between
6.30 and 7am. Having a cuddle
is the greatest way for me to
start my day. I hold her hand
going down the stairs, we do a
puzzle, maybe read a book. I
love doing simple family things
like breakfast with my family.
My time with my daughter is my
zen. Then I try and get to yoga
I truly believe mindfulness and
movement is lifechanging.
WHAT’S A BOOK THAT
CHANGED YOUR MINDSET?
The Way of the Peaceful
Warrior by Dan Millman. This
international bestseller conveys
piercing truths and humorous
wisdom, speaking directly to the
universal quest for happiness.
WHAT’S YOUR STRATEGY
TO STAYING FOCUSED?
Start with the end goal in mind.
Looking forward reminds
me to keep taking the steps
needed to achieve my goals. In
sports psychology we refer to
it as outcome versus process.
Focusing on the process is
important, but for me the
outcome always comes first, it
needs to be so purposeful and
so inspiring that it brings you
to your end goal no matter the
obstacles. It is a paradox in the
end that you are constantly
looking up to the end game
whilst giving 100% in your daily
process. Vision is so important
but you need to marry it with
action!