Ben Ikin is the Head of Football at the Brisbane Broncos, which is one of the largest sporting organisations in Australia.

He was a Gold Coast local who enjoyed his upbringing with his family. Growing up in a family with different professions consisting of rugby league, music and dance always provided good conversations at the dinner table amongst the family.

He tells a funny story about his selection into the origin arena for the first time. Having played only a few first grade games before his selection in the qld side, the coach (Paul Vautin) didn’t know what he looked like when he first met him so their first encounter was an interesting one.

Ben had success during his rugby league career and is still the youngest ever player to play state of origin. Having achieved the highest level in sports and then what seems to me to be a successful transition into the workforce, I wanted to find out how that transition was for him. 

He gives plenty of practical advice and tips on how to make that transition a good one. A key point I took away from the podcast was to sit down and to write your thoughts and feelings on a particular topic. This was a daily process for him during his 10 year career with the NRL 360 show and gives credit to that skill for the company wanting to keep him around. He emphasises that writing is a good way to form and to articulate your message across an audience.

One of the best quotes I got out of the podcast was:

“I have not so much fallen in love with what I do, but I have fallen in love with doing the job well. So then people will want to keep me around”.

Ben is a supporter of two great charities. For those who can help out the descriptions and links are below:

https://menofleague.com

Teamwork and mateship have been the cornerstones of rugby league since its inception. Whether you are an ex-player, an administrator, referee, or club volunteer; whether you are a man, woman or child, Men of League Foundation protects and enhances lives while respecting each individual’s dignity. The vision was to build a foundation that provided practical assistance and social support, and this vision has been realised.

https://www.pcsrf.org.au

Finding a Cure for ParalysisEvery day in Australia at least one person has their life changed forever through the tragedy of paralysis. It’s devastating, heart-breaking and the simplest of daily tasks suddenly becomes an overwhelming challenge – for life. The Perry Cross Spinal Research Foundation was born to challenge that life-long sentence and challenge the science and medical industries to find a cure for paralysis. In recent years, it has embarked on unveiling one of the world’s most promising hopes of a cure – and it’s being progressed in Australia.

A cure of this magnitude doesn’t lay in the hands of one person, it requires a united and multi-faceted model that collectively brings world-class leaders from an array of professions together – to get the ‘job done’. Founded by Perry Cross, the PCSRF aims to facilitate, collaborate and initiate the connections and research required to find a cure for paralysis.

About David Mead

David Mead has played professional rugby league for 13 years. Spending time with other athletes, coaches and football staff has given him great insight into how the sport is played at a high level. He wants to use insights and stories from these people as well as from his experience to inspire and to empower the youth. He believes in "leaving the place better than you found it." This podcast will help him and others do just that. 

Connect with David and follow him on:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/david.mead.94

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/davidmead411/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/davidmead411

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-mead-7604b986/

Website: www.davidmead.com.au 

Producer: Jason Strozkiy (@strozkiymedia) www.strozkiymedia.com 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.