The psychology that changes how we lead | Paul McVeigh | TEDxBlack Mountain
What does it take to go from the streets of Belfast to the Premier League and beyond?
In this powerful and often humorous TEDx talk, former professional footballer Paul McVeigh shares the life-changing lessons behind world-class performance, and the beliefs that hold us back. From training with football legend Jürgen Klinsmann to doing yoga alone in a locker room of sceptical teammates, Paul reveals how dreams begin, how doubt creeps in, and what happens when you believe anyway.
With three unforgettable stories, and one unforgettable Aunt Jean, Paul explores the real psychology of belief and performance. Whether you're leading a team, chasing a dream, or simply trying to believe in yourself again, this talk might just change how you see what’s possible.
“What if one small belief was the difference between watching from the sidelines… and scoring your own goal?”
Paul McVeigh is a former Premier League footballer
who played for clubs including Tottenham Hotspur,
Norwich City, and representing Northern Ireland
internationally. After retiring, Paul transitioned into
performance psychology, driven by a passion for
understanding what separates good from great in both
sport and business.Now a sought-after speaker, coach, and author of The
Stupid Footballer is Dead, he works with global
organisations and elite performers to improve
mindset, resilience, and high performance. Paul
combines lived experience at the top level of sport
with evidence-based psychological strategies, helping
individuals and teams unlock their full potential. His
engaging, practical approach continues to inspire
audiences in sport, business, and beyond. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx
More from TED
- 13:07Kendine İyi ''Bak'' | Bedriye Hülya | TEDxİzmir Atatürk LisesiKendine iyi ''bak’', yüzeyde basit bir veda sözü gibi görünse de, içinde ihmal edilen benliğe dair derin bir çağrı barındırır. Bedriye Hülya turizm, tekstil, yeme içme sektörlerinde şirketler kurmuş bir seri girişimci iken 38 yaşında ABD'de psikoloji okuma hayalini gerçekleştirmek için kariyerine ara verene kadar olan mücadelelerinin çoğunun cinsiyet eşitsizliklerinden ve erkek egemen bir alanda kadın olmaktan kaynaklandığını fark etti. ABD'deki yaşam tarzını keşfederken, kadınlara özel spor salonları konseptiyle karşılaştı ve bu da b-fit fikri için ilham sağladı. Bu merkezlerin hiçbirinin temel yaklaşımlarında kadınların güçlendirilmesi fikrini gerçekten yaymadığını fark ederek, yenilik yapmaya karar verdi ve kadın arkadaşları ile yeni bir model yarattılar. Bu modelle kadınların bedenleri ve kendileri ile egzersiz aracılığı ile ilişki kurarken bir yandan da iş kurmaları ve çalışmaları için önayak oldular. Daha sonra çocukların hareket etmesi ve bedenlerini kullanmayı öğrenmesi için ortağı ile Muzipo Kids’i kurdu. Klinik Psikoloji’de doktora yapmış olan Bedriye Hülya halen üniversitelerde psikoloji ile ilgili Organizasyonel Psikoloji, Feminist Terapi, Kişilik Kuramları gibi dersler vermekte ve bir yandan da bireysel ve grup terapileri yapmaktadır. Çalışan kadınlara, iş hayatındaki engellerin farkına varmak ve azaltmak amacıyla psikolojik beceriler öğretmek için başladığı grup çalışmaları devam etmekte ve Türkiye’ye yayılması için uğraşmaktadır. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx
- 12:48A Pawn's Journey to Success | Medha Ramaswamy | TEDxMaumeeValleyCountryDaySchoolMedha walks us throw a game of chess as she goes through the characteristics of a successful leader. Medha Ramaswamy, a junior at Southview High School, loves chess and leads a program to share her passion with the community. She runs cross-country and enjoys hiking. Medha is an avid reader and enjoys traveling to different places! This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx
- 4:56The Importance of Special Needs Awareness | Marah Ariss | TEDxMaumeeValleyCountryDaySchoolWith a personal story, Marah discusses the importance of special needs awareness. Marah Ariss, a junior at Perrysburg Highschool, and has been an aspiring lawyer since the time she was a little girl. She also has two years of experience through speech and debate, winning first place at some tournaments here and there as well. Whatsmore, she is also very passionate about music, through her playing of the harp for seven years thus far. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx
- 9:06How a Name Can Make a Difference | Mallory Rettig | TEDxMaumeeValleyCountryDaySchoolMallory discusses the importance and impact of something that is often overlooked--a name. Mallory Rettig is a senior at Anthony Wayne High School who shows leadership in her school by being NHS president and uplifts her community by tutoring young kids through Evolving Minds. She plans to further her education at a university majoring in literature on a pre-law track. Mallory values her job at Jonathon Khoi Nail Spa where she spends her time interacting with customers and forming meaningful connections with co-workers. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx
- 11:51The Power of Preventative Care | Palmis Yahoo | TEDxYouth@AICSThe key to lasting health is surprisingly simple—but often overlooked. In this engaging talk, Palmis Yahoo explores the transformative power of preventive care in modern dentistry and medicine, showing how small, consistent habits and early action can form the strong roots of lifelong well-being. A must-watch for anyone ready to move beyond reacting to illness and start cultivating true health from the ground up. “Palmis is a first year dentistry student studying at the Academic Centrum for Dentistry Amsterdam (ACTA). Her passion for studying dentistry came from her interests in the medical world (the anatomy/physiology, the diagnosis process, and the social aspects of patient care) and her love for the practical work that goes into being a dentist (drilling tooth decay, filling, you name it!). Palmis is energetic, hardworking, and a critical thinker. She loves problem solving in the medical field. She is especially curious why certain endemic diseases occur, what their consequences are, and what can we to do stop or prevent the disease progression. Her talk will focus on the increasing importance of preventative care, specifically in the field of dentistry.” Stay tuned for Palmis's TED talk: "The Power of Preventative Care: shifting from treatment to long-term health" This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx
- 17:09Creativity in the Face of Adversity | Kaiwan Shaban | TEDxAmericanUniversityofKurdistanIn this inspiring and humorous TEDx talk, visual artist Kaiwan Shaban shares how growing up in the mountains of Akre in Kurdistan, surrounded by both beauty and hardship, sparked a lifelong creative journey. From photography to digital 3D art, Kaiwan reveals how adversity can be a powerful fuel for creativity. This talk challenges the belief that only “real” artists create and invites every viewer to uncover the artist within. Through personal stories and actionable principles, Kaiwan encourages young people to embrace uncertainty and explore the unexplored. Kaiwan Shaban, a 25-year-old visual artist hailing from the city of Akre in the Kurdistan region. Currently based in Warsaw, Poland. His art represents an amalgamation of digital art and cinematography that conveys the best of both worlds, allowing him to translate his imaginative ideas into a distinctive form of creative self-expression. Throughout his career, Kaiwan has worked with prestigious clients such as Apple, Adobe, Mercedes, Audible, Sony Music, and Jaguar, to name a few. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx