Preparation is Everything

Posted by marie@thefoldlondon.com BigCommerce on 2nd Jun 2023

EVERY FOLD WOMAN HAS A UNIQUE STORY TO TELL
EVERY FOLD WOMAN HAS A UNIQUE STORY TO TELL

Preparation is
Everything

From rituals to routines, sleep to self-talk, meditation to meal plans, the way you prepare impacts your performance.

Olympians spend four years training physically and mentally for a competition that can last just minutes (or 9.58 seconds in Usain Bolt’s case). It’s the stuff we don’t see on TV that makes the greats great.

Whether you’re playing sports or pitching in the boardroom, preparation is the difference between success and failure, winning and losing.

In our latest Fold Woman series, we spoke to some of Manchester City’s top players and professionals on how they perform well under pressure and get ready for big moments, both on and off the pitch.

Attacking midfielder Laura Coombs, striker Deyna Castellanos, defender Alex Greenwood, Chief Marketing Officer Nuria Tarré, MBA and former England goalkeeper Karen Bardsley reveal how they boost their mood and mindset, stay on task and elevate their game.

ALEX GREENWOOD

Defender, Manchester City Women

‘I’m very organised but, if something goes wrong, it won’t rock me. I like to prepare in the same way for home games and away games: good sleep, good food, a good training week and knowing my job come the weekend. Caffeine is also really important!’


Preparation is Everything

Preperation is Everything

From rituals to routines, sleep to self-talk, meditation to meal plans, the way you prepare impacts your performance.

 

Olympians spend four years training physically and mentally for a competition that can last just minutes (or 9.58 seconds in Usain Bolt’s case). It’s the stuff we don’t see on TV that makes the greats great.

 

Whether you’re playing sports or pitching in the boardroom, preparation is the difference between success and failure, winning and losing.

In our latest Fold Woman series, we spoke to some of Manchester City’s top players and professionals on how they perform well under pressure and get ready for big moments, both on and off the pitch.

 

Attacking midfielder Laura Coombs, striker Deyna Castellanos, defender Alex Greenwood, Chief Marketing Officer Nuria Tarré, MBA and former England goalkeeper Karen Bardsley reveal how they boost their mood and mindset, stay on task and elevate their game.

ALEX GREENWOOD

ALEX GREENWOOD

Defender, Manchester City Women

Defender, Manchester City Women

‘I’m very organised but, if something goes wrong, it won’t rock me. I like to prepare in the same way for home games and away games: good sleep, good food, a good training week and knowing my job come the weekend. Caffeine is also really important!’

‘I’m very organised but, if something goes wrong, it won’t rock me. I like to prepare in the same way for home games and away games: good sleep, good food, a good training week and knowing my job come the weekend. Caffeine is also really important!’


‘I like to prepare in the same way for home games and away games: good sleep, good food and a good training week.’

‘I like to prepare in the same way for home games and away games: good sleep, good food and a good training week.’

‘I like to prepare in the same way for home games and away games: good sleep, good food and a good training week.’

ALEX GREENWOOD


NURIA TARRÉ, MBA

Chief Marketing and Fan Experience Officer, City Football Group

‘Preparation is crucial. The best presentations are ones that look natural but are rehearsed. Before a big meeting kicks off, I’ll always spend a few minutes chatting to everyone; I think it’s important to feel relaxed and comfortable with the people around you.’



NURIA TARRÉ, MBA

Chief Marketing and Fan Experience Officer, City Football Group

NURIA TARRÉ, MBA

Chief Marketing and Fan Experience Officer, City Football Group

‘Preparation is crucial. The best presentations are ones that look natural but are rehearsed. Before a big meeting kicks off, I’ll always spend a few minutes chatting to everyone; I think it’s important to feel relaxed and comfortable with the people around you.’

‘Preparation is crucial. The best presentations are ones that look natural but are rehearsed. Before a big meeting kicks off, I’ll always spend a few minutes chatting to everyone; I think it’s important to feel relaxed and comfortable with the people around you.’


‘Preparation is crucial. The best presentations are ones that look natural but are rehearsed.’

‘Preparation is crucial. The best presentations are ones that look natural but are rehearsed.’

‘Preparation is crucial. The best presentations are ones that look natural but are rehearsed.’

NURIA TARRÉ, MBA


DEYNA CASTELLANOS

Forward, Manchester City Women

‘Music is a big part of my match preparation. It helps me to concentrate, loosen up a little bit and get into the vibe. Dressing up also gives me more confidence. It lifts my energy and my mood. It makes my day better, for sure.’



DEYNA CASTELLANOS

DEYNA CASTELLANOS

Forward, Manchester City Women

Forward, Manchester City Women

‘Music is a big part of my match preparation. It helps me to concentrate, loosen up a little bit and get into the vibe. Dressing up also gives me more confidence. It lifts my energy and my mood. It makes my day better, for sure.’

‘Music is a big part of my match preparation. It helps me to concentrate, loosen up a little bit and get into the vibe. Dressing up also gives me more confidence. It lifts my energy and my mood. It makes my day better, for sure.’


‘Dressing up also gives me more confidence. It lifts my energy and my mood.’

‘Dressing up also gives me more confidence. It lifts my energy and my mood.’

‘Dressing up also gives me more confidence. It lifts my energy and my mood.’

DEYNA CASTELLANOS


KAREN BARDSLEY

Former Goalkeeper and Project Officer, Manchester City

‘I used to keep a journal and would jot down notes about my training sessions and how I was feeling. Before a big match, I’d reflect on the entries I’d made that week and then give myself a really clear, simple objective, like “manage the ball speed” or “get set early”. That would really help me to focus on my performance and what I could deliver.’



KAREN BARDSLEY

Former Goalkeeper and Project Officer, Manchester City

KAREN BARDSLEY

Former Goalkeeper and Project Officer, Manchester City

‘I used to keep a journal and would jot down notes about my training sessions and how I was feeling. Before a big match, I’d reflect on the entries I’d made that week and then give myself a really clear, simple objective, like “manage the ball speed” or “get set early”. That would really help me to focus on my performance and what I could deliver.’

‘I used to keep a journal and would jot down notes about my training sessions and how I was feeling. Before a big match, I’d reflect on the entries I’d made that week and then give myself a really clear, simple objective, like “manage the ball speed” or “get set early”. That would really help me to focus on my performance and what I could deliver.’


‘Before a big match, I’d reflect on the journal entries I’d made that week and then give myself a really clear and simple objective.’

‘Before a big match, I’d reflect on the journal entries I’d made that week and then give myself a really clear and simple objective.’

‘Before a big match, I’d reflect on the journal entries I’d made that week and then give myself a really clear and simple objective.’

KAREN BARDSLEY


LAURA COOMBS

Midfielder, Manchester City Women

‘Some people like to pump themselves up before a big game but I'm the opposite; I like to listen to chilled music that keeps me calm and grounded. That way, when I go out on the pitch, I'm the best version of myself.’


LAURA COOMBS

LAURA COOMBS

Midfielder, Manchester City Women

Midfielder, Manchester City Women

‘Some people like to pump themselves up before a big game but I'm the opposite; I like to listen to chilled music that keeps me calm and grounded. That way, when I go out on the pitch, I'm the best version of myself.’

‘Some people like to pump themselves up before a big game but I'm the opposite; I like to listen to chilled music that keeps me calm and grounded. That way, when I go out on the pitch, I'm the best version of myself.’



‘I like to listen to chilled music that keeps me calm and grounded.’

‘I like to listen to chilled music that keeps me calm and grounded.’

‘I like to listen to chilled music that keeps me calm and grounded.’

LAURA COOMBS



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