--- title: "Unleashing the Ted Lasso Magic: Lessons on Optimism, Relationship-Building, and Embracing Vulnerability" podcast: "The 2% Solution: 30 Minutes to Transform Your Life" episode: 28 season: 1 date: 2023-12-11 duration: "5:43" topics: ["mental health", "work and life"] url: "https://dadbody.com/podcast/28-unleashing-the-ted-lasso-magic-lessons-on-optimism-relationship-buildi" --- # Unleashing the Ted Lasso Magic: Lessons on Optimism, Relationship-Building, and Embracing Vulnerability Five life lessons from Ted Lasso, played straight. Believe in possibility, relationships over results, be curious not judgemental, the power of vulnerability, and the biscuit philosophy. Funny on the surface, and a decent blueprint for leading anything underneath it. ## Transcript Hey there, champions of Change and seekers of the extraordinary, Welcome to another Motivational Monday on the 2% Solution Podcast. I'm Dai Manuel, your host, ready to sprinkle some Ted Lasso magic into your day. If you haven't yet checked out Ted Lasso, prepare for a masterclass in humor and heart. Let's dive into the top five life lessons from the show that are more nourishing than a plate of biscuits with Rebecca as a Ted Lasso. You know the reference and you know where I'm going with that. But seriously, this is a series that we were sort of late to come to it, my wife Christy and I but when we did get into it in season one, we binged the whole thing and then we were anticipating the following seasons on just literally on the edge of our seat, because we just got so much inspiration and motivation but also, at the same time, excellent examples of different ways of connecting and supporting people, communities, friends, family. It's got so many amazing themes in it. So if you haven't checked it out yet on the Apple network, I highly recommend it. It's a great series for an entire family to watch. But I wrote an article on LinkedIn a few months ago talking about these five life lessons that I've taken away from Ted Lasso and I thought you know what for a Motivational Monday, I'm going to share these little insights and I'll also link to the article itself. So if you want to check out some of the videos because in the article I actually embed videos of the different scenes where I draw out some of these life lessons. So with that let's get it. Lesson number one believe in possibility. Literally, ted's optimism isn't just about seeing the football pitches half full, or should I say half green. It's a lesson in believing in potential, yours and everyone's else's. Remember, you don't need to know all the soccer rules to score big in life. And if you're not familiar with the Ted Lasso show, he is an amazing football coach who is then hired and contracted to become the head coach for a football team in the UK or a soccer team, and, of course, not knowing soccer at all. But he knows how to lead people and he believes in possibility and he has some amazing speeches within the whole series. That really reflects this belief and having a belief that anything is possible. Lesson two relationships over results. Winning is great, but have you tried genuinely connecting with your team In Ted's world and, let's be honest, in our corporate jungles too. The real victory is in building a team that actually likes seeing you walk in. So next time you're entering a meeting, maybe bring more empathy than PowerPoint slides. Lesson number three be curious, not judgmental. Borrowing from Walt Whitman, ted teaches us about open-mindedness. Before we judge someone, why not try understanding their perspective? And no, you don't have to literally walk a mile in their shoes. Trust me, not all shoes are fit for your feet, but being able to empathize and at least relate to some of the struggles or experiences that other people are enduring, it just brings us all closer together as well as provides more non-judgmental perspectives. And now, honestly, it brings us all closer together because we start to realize that we're more alike than we are different. Lesson four one of my favorites actually the power of vulnerability. Ted shows us it's okay to shed a tear or admit when we don't have all the answers. And, let's face it, admitting you don't know the offside rule in football can be a relief After all, I don't know anything about soccer to be too useful. It's about being real and honest a refreshing change from pretending to know everything. Vulnerability is powerful, but not everybody deserves our vulnerability, as Brunet Brown maintains. But it is something that creates and is often given based on trust. But how do you do you even be more vulnerable? You know, if you haven't heard back previous episodes, I shared my TEDx talk on why vulnerability is a human thing. I dive into this subject a lot deeper, so be sure to check it out if you haven't already, and I'll also include the link again in the show notes, lesson five the biscuit philosophy. Ted's daily biscuit ritual is more than a sugar hit. It's a metaphor for life. Success often requires consistency, a dash of sweetness and, of course, the magic of a good shortbread. So maybe it's time we all bake a little more thoughtfulness into our daily routines. And if you're not familiar with the show, again not to steal any thunder, because it's very evident, but every morning he brings in these freshly baked biscuits, quite literally these little shortbreads that he makes with his own special recipe, and he uses it to really not only break the ice but to connect. It's almost like that ritual we often hear about around the water cool, almost that cliche, but it's those moments that recur every day and that opportunity to connect on the life stuff, just the works. In essence, ted Lasso isn't just a show about football and leadership. It's a playbook from life, reminding us of the potential we all have to make positive impact. So next time life throws you a curveball, think what would Ted Lasso do? He offer a biscuit, a smile and a dose of unwavering optimism. As today's episode resonated with you, don't forget to hit subscribe, share it with your friends and drop us a review if you feel inspired. Stay tuned for more insightful and motivating episodes every Monday, wednesday and Friday, right here on the 2% Solution Podcast. Let's keep making our days count towards a healthier, happier us. Remember, it's not about being perfect, it's about being 2% better than yesterday.