Ex-Ireland international, Aidan McCullen - formerly of Leinster, Toulouse, and Dax - has carved out one of the more successful post-pro rugby careers for himself.
As per his Linkedin - where he has over 18,000 followers - he 'Delivers Award-Winning Workshops & Keynotes on Innovation and Reinvention Mindset' and currently works at Edge Behaviour, while also being a host of The Innovation Show, is a part-time director with National Broadband Ireland, and a seasonal lecturer at Trinity College.
Former Ireland Rugby International Turned Author
It's an incredibly impressive resumé, and one that has been curated by a man with a lot of confidence in his ability. However, as he explained in a Linkedin post - which was reported on by RugbyPass - there was a time when he was 'embarrassed' by being a one-hit-wonder for Ireland - after winning his sole cap in an away trip to Samoa in 2003 - but that former Ireland head coach Eddie O'Sullivan helped him embrace the tag:
"Several years post-retirement from rugby," he wrote.
I encountered former Ireland rugby coach Eddie O’Sullivan. I sought his involvement in some leadership development workshops I was designing and to address a lingering question regarding my rugby career.
20 November 2002; Aidan McCullen, Ireland. Rugby. Picture credit; Matt Browne / SPORTSFILE *EDI*
“Eddie had chosen me for my sole international appearance for Ireland. My only cap is something I initially felt embarrassed about.
"However, two perspectives changed my view. First, a friend reminded me of the rarity of achieving an Ireland cap, noting I was the 978th cap in a list that, as of February 7, 2024, totals 1,156 players. The second is what Eddie said to me over breakfast that day.”
Eddie O'Sullivan: "Aidan, there are three kinds of players. There is a disciplined player. Then, there is a talented player. Finally, there is a third type of player and this is the goal of the coach, to make the talented player disciplined… You, my friend, were amazingly disciplined.”
While some may accuse Cullen of a Linkedin-speak type of post, it is a fascinating insight into how a different perspective from a respectable source can help change your mindset.
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