“Who we are beyond our work shapes how we show up within it.” Mark Worthington
In this episode of The School of Wellbeing, Meg Durham sits down with Mark Worthington, Head of Player Development Manager at the Geelong Cats and former teacher, to explore what it means to have an identity beyond work.
Together they discuss the parallels between education and elite sport including the intensity, the transitions, and the pressure to perform, and why cultivating a non-work (or non-athletic) identity is vital for long-term wellbeing and success.
Mark shares insights from his journey from the classroom to the AFL, reflecting on balance, leadership, self-compassion, and how caring for the person behind the professional transforms how we live and work.
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Chapter Markers

00:00 – Welcome and introduction
04:10 – From teaching to elite sport: Mark’s story
10:35 – The intensity of high-performance environments
17:20 – Developing a non-work identity
23:40 – Balancing personal life and professional demands
31:15 – Self-compassion and sustainable leadership
38:00 – Feeling supported beyond performance
44:50 – Lessons from sport for teachers and school leaders
50:30 – Final reflections: thriving beyond work

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Deliberate Actions

Reflect on what fills you up outside of work.
Schedule time this week for something that reminds you of who you are beyond your role.
Start a conversation with a colleague about how you each protect your non-work identity.
Give yourself permission to rest and recover because it’s part of sustainable performance.

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Episode 155 Shownotes - Click here.
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Mark Worthington  LinkedIn
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Meg Durham - Website | LinkedIn | Instagram
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** The School of Wellbeing is one of Australia's best health and wellbeing podcasts for teachers, educators and school leaders! **

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