Drafted in the 4th round of the 2003 NFL Draft, Brandon Lloyd didn’t think his Plan A would include becoming a Pro Bowl Wide Receiver, catching darts from Tom Brady or leading the league for a season in receiving yards. After 11 years playing in front of adoring fans (in SF, Washington, Chicago, Denver, St. Louis and New England), he now shares what life is like on the other side of the chalk. We cover a lot of ground in this podcast including what was important to Brandon’s family before football, what life was truly like behind the scenes in the NFL and how Brandon continues to work “in the now” to rebuild his identity after life in the NFL had concluded.
06:36 - What Brandon is up to these days
08:00 - Transitioning teams
08:27 - Similarities between sports teams and corporate teams
09:39 - What Brandon misses about the NFL - the physicality, being the best, and preparation
09:45 - Vigorous exercise has been an outlet to prepare for my day and knock the edge off
10:46 - The last of 7 kids in the Lloyd family
12:16 - Grew up around a lot of loving people that were supportive
12:47 - Parents held me accountable
13:40 - A smart man learns from his mistakes, a stupid man never learns from his mistakes, and a wise man learns from other people's mistakes
16:01 - Just tell me what "don't" to do...
17:58 - The people we surround ourselves with is the greatest expressions of who we are
18:31 - Seeking continuous improvement
18:44 - How do I correct that?
19:19 - Humility was an underlying trait that was passed on to me
20:00 - Leaving school early and mom not being happy about the decision
24:11 - Owning up to promises and obligations
25:30 - Overcoming doubts
29:38 - Playing with Tom Brady - the perfect rotation
32:42 - Stepping up and becoming something
34:05 - Nothing was ever good enough...always wanted more
34:35 - An insatiable appetite always leaves you angry...never achieving enough or getting the desired result
34:53 - Tools: reading self help books and Eckhart Tolle, deconstructing the ego, hypnotherapy, applied kinesiology
36:25 - Improving myself personally and professionally, focusing on parenting, and staying present
38:00 - Learning from the experience in Washington
40:45 - Dialing in to mental health
41:21 - The right diet and the right mentality
42:18 - Not listening to the "mean" voice in your head
44:17 - Advice from Brandon 2.0
46:04 - The 2010 season
49:36 - The transition after football - "a major loss of identity"
51:34 - Understanding the tools gained and learned from football and applying them to new areas in life
54:22 - Raising two boys