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Tara was known for one thing: martial arts. It shaped how she moved through the world. It gave her discipline, confidence, community, and a sense of direction. But somewhere along the way, the structure that once supported her started to feel like a box she no longer fit inside.

Leaving wasn’t easy. It wasn’t a dramatic moment. It was slow. Quiet. And terrifying. Because when your entire identity has been built on being one thing, stepping away feels like losing your sense of self.

In this episode, Tara walks us through what it’s really like to let go of a version of yourself that you’ve outgrown. She talks about the internal tug-of-war between wanting more and not wanting to disappoint the people who expect you to stay the same. And she shares what helped her reconnect with her voice, her body, and her power, outside of performance.

What You’ll Hear:

• Why Tara made the difficult decision to leave martial arts after years of dedication
• The emotional and psychological toll of untangling identity from achievement
• How sport gave her discipline, but also masked deeper needs she had ignored
• What happened when the applause stopped and the stillness came in
• How she is learning to value herself without external validation or titles
• The mindset shifts that are helping her lead herself instead of proving herself
• Her advice for anyone feeling trapped in a role they’ve outgrown

Golden Nugget

🔗 Need Career Clarity?

Visit www.2ndwind.io to book a consultancy or explore how we can support your next chapter.

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What do you do when the one thing you thought you were meant to do doesn’t work out?

In this episode, we meet Sophia, a former academy footballer who faced the heartbreak of being released before ever turning pro. But instead of letting it define her, she turned the page and built something even more powerful.

From navigating identity loss to finding her voice in the corporate world, Sophia shares the raw truth about rejection, self-worth, and what happens when your plans fall apart but you don’t.

Now in tech and on a mission to lead with purpose, she opens up about the inner work, the setbacks, and the mindset shifts that helped her rewrite her story.

What You’ll Hear:

- The moment Sophia’s football dream ended and what she did next

- Why being released from an academy rocked her sense of self

- How sport shaped her presence, mindset, and leadership style

- The shift from performance pressure to personal power

- Building a meaningful career without losing her identity

How she found clarity by tuning out the noise

Advice for anyone who's had to pivot before they were ready

💡 Golden Nugget

If You’ve Ever Wondered…

• Am I more than my role or title?
• What happens if the plan doesn’t work out?
• Can I reinvent myself and still feel like me?

This one’s for you!

🔗 Need Career Clarity?

Visit www.2ndwind.io to learn more or book a session.
Let’s help you figure out what’s next and build a career that fits where you are now.

Send us a text

In this episode, we sit down with Sandile, a former football academy player whose journey took an unexpected turn when the pandemic paused everything. What started as a pursuit of pro football has now evolved into a career in tech, mentorship, and agri-business. His story is about staying ready, reinventing with intention, and finding new ways to win even when the plan changes.

We talk about what it takes to navigate sudden transitions, how sports skills transfer into the real world, and why it’s never too early—or too late—to pivot into something new.

We talk about:
- How Sandile went from a football academy contract to becoming a tech professional

- What COVID taught him about identity, discipline, and letting go of rigid timelines

- The power of staying ready and showing up even after setbacks

- Why your sport mindset still counts, even if you leave the game

- How Sandile’s career shift opened doors to community impact, mentorship, and entrepreneurship

- His long-term vision of blending tech and purpose to support farmers through agri-tech

If you’ve ever had to pivot before you were ready, this episode will speak to you. Sandile’s story is a reminder that even when the dream changes, your drive doesn’t have to.

💎 GOLDEN NUGGET:

“Just because football ended, didn’t mean I lost everything. The discipline, the mindset, the ability to bounce back — I took all of that with me.”

Want support on your own pivot?

Visit www.2ndwind.io to learn more or book a session.
Let’s help you figure out what’s next and build a career that fits where you are now.