About Me - Short Version
Hi There, I'm Michael Gaffney - Owner, Creator, and Facilitator at Wellsmith Pty. Ltd.
Once upon a time, I thought my AFL career was everything - until it wasn't.
When that chapter ended sooner than I expected, I figured I'd hit a dead end. Spoiler alert: I was wrong!
It took me a bit to realise but I finally worked it out - instead of staying stuck, I shifted into something new - mindset coaching.
I threw myself into learning and training (just like I had done with AFL), turning what felt like a loss into an exciting new path forward.
Now, as an Elite Mindset Coach, I use my own ups and downs to help others reach their peak performance.
It’s not the path I originally planned, but it turns out, it’s exactly where I’m meant to be.
About Me - Long Version
The road from what I initially wanted (Elite Footballer) to where I am now (Elite Mindset Coach) felt spectacularly challenging!
One thing I am certain of though is this: I will always be grateful for that initial setback that allowed me to grow into a role and lifestyle that's so fulfilling.
My 'story' starts as a 9-year-old kid in an itchy black and white woollen jumper.
The Story
As a kid, I worshipped my local State League football team - The Port Adelaide Magpies.
I spent most of my childhood dreaming of playing for the 'Mighty Maggies'. When my Dad bought me my first Magpie guernsey as a 9-year-old (see image above) I could not wipe the smile off my face.
I thought life couldn't get any better - but it did!
In just 10 short years my dream came true. When I ran out onto the ground with my childhood heroes for my first senior game in the famous black and white 'lace-up' jumper, I had to pinch myself.
I thought life couldn't get any better - but it did!
I was developing as a footballer, and found myself drafted by a national team, the Brisbane Lions and then traded to the Sydney Swans. This meant the big stage!
I thought life couldn't get any better - but it did!
As a young man, packing up and travelling to an interstate club felt daunting, but thankfully, Port Adelaide enticed me to stay and be part of a new era as the Port Adelaide Football Club prepared to enter the national competition. How's my timing?
I thought life couldn't get any better...
This time I was right!
I suffered a career-ending injury and in an instant, my dream of playing on the big national stage with the club I loved was over.
For life, football had been my identity; now it was gone. I was shattered, lost and confused. (Queue violin / but stay with me here!)
With the door abruptly shut on my AFL career, I had to come up with a new plan and a new identity. I became very good at creating the illusion that I was happy and managing well – I wasn’t!
The Demise
It would hurt me to see teammates on big contracts, driving big cars and winning big trophies.
Each time I saw them on TV became a cruel reminder of my missed opportunity. I soon tuned out to all media, distanced relationships with old teammates, and stopped following AFL football altogether.
Over the next decade, I faced relationship breakdowns, self-destructive behaviour, alcohol dependency, and depression. At the peak of my mental health challenges, I landed in the hospital with an anxiety-induced stroke.
All this, with the added burden of running a hectic facade of the ‘cool guy with the quick wit, who had everything going for him’ – It was hard work!
Main picture: Me (in hat) with some fantastic mates.
I was eating poorly, had little control or clarity, and was always sick! I felt anxious, reactive and captured. I desperately needed a fresh perspective but had no idea where to start.
The Chase
I decided my next frontier of escapism would be a six-month trip around the world. Surely I would find some answers ‘out there’?
I didn’t!
As soon as my bags were unpacked, so too were my Gremlins…. ‘Hey, how did you guys get through Quarantine?’
My Dad (pictured below) cruelly passed away from Alzheimer’s disease which added another layer of denial, distraction, and confusion.
I remember returning home from Dad's funeral and wondering what this 'big game of life' was all about.
I started to awkwardly laugh; then I realised no one could hear me, so I started to cry.
The Victim
I remember thinking a Life Coach was some dicky guru selling hugs and high-fives. Boy was I wrong!
As luck would have it, I crossed paths with one of these 'freaks' and so began my 'Good-Life' crisis!
Through my Coach, I realised that my (now embarrassingly small) ‘missed opportunity AFL football story’ I chose to re-run in my head, was sabotaging me.
By playing ‘the victim’, I felt entitled, even proud of my poor lifestyle choices. My life was eroding fast, and I was the one sabotaging it! So... I decided to change my story!
My Coach didn’t ‘tell’ me one thing; she simply 'asked' me potent questions that gave me Control, Clarity & Calm.
Similar to that 9-year-old kid in that itchy woollen jumper, (wanting to play for the Magpies) I once again felt excited about my future possibilities.
Without that initial 30-minute phone conversation with my Coach, it scares me to think about how my life may currently look.
I hung up the phone and felt free again. I started to awkwardly laugh; then realised no one could hear me, so I started to cry.
The Switch
I graduated from the Life Coaching Institute in 2005, as a Professional Life Coach.
In 2006 I opened my Coaching Practice and immediately recaptured an exciting drive and purpose I hadn't felt in years.
Like football, I dedicated heaps of time to learning - I loved it!
I completed my Certificates in Ericksonian Hypnotherapy, Sequential Mind Technology, and Neuro-Linguistic Programming and also became a Certified Personal Trainer.
Good things, good experiences and good people were now everywhere.
It then struck me... If I couldn’t go 'Pro’ as an Elite AFL Footballer, I would go 'Pro’ as an Elite Life/Mindset Coach. So I did!
The Good Things
It seemed the more I gave the more 'good things' I seemed to get.
This one day a really 'good thing' arrived and her name was Anne. Anne helped me with two more 'good things' - Jake & Toby.
Along with my Coaching Practice, these 3 'good things' are my drive and inspiration.
They've helped me leverage an exciting new personal purpose to play more, be sillier, make more mistakes and continually grow my portfolio of Mental Wealth.
The road from what I initially wanted (Elite Footballer) to where I am now (Elite Mindset Coach) felt spectacularly challenging! One thing I am certain of though is this: I will always be grateful for that initial setback that gave me the opportunity to grow into a role and lifestyle that's so fulfilling.
The Wrap
I've coached hundreds of people with hundreds of 'stories' and my 'story' now feels embarrassingly small. But no matter how big or small your story feels, it can be equally paralysing.
During a challenging time when I had no idea I even needed help, I was lucky enough to get it. This leaves me desperate to repay an overwhelming debt - one I'll be passionately repaying through my practice for life.
If you're tired of any 'stories' currently running in your background and would like to start creating some new ones, check out my newly released Essentials Program for Individuals. If you would like me to facilitate a wellbeing workshop in your business please check out our Essentials Workplace Wellbeing Package options.
