Q&A with Coach Ted Bergman on Human Connection and Mindfulness

{ By Emily O’Connell }

1. What piece of advice led you to coaching and mentoring?

Ted: It’s not really advice that led me to coach but more of a quote, which is, “you are responsible for the energy that you bring.”  It’s a quote that I actually read on one of my friend’s Instagram Bios and it really resonated and stuck with me.  You’re constantly told to show up in the right clothes for work but rarely are you told to bring positive energy to work every day. I always knew that when I brought great energy, it positively impacted those around me. Becoming accountable for that energy became a worthwhile challenge for me, and it motivates me every day to show up as I am to inspire and motivate others. 

2. Has coaching always been your passion?

Ted: I have always had a passion for leadership.  When I was in 5th grade I was the student council president and my leadership continued through sports teams, musical groups, and educational programs throughout my entire life.  I would often share motivational quotes with friends and they’d usually joke around and say, “you should be a motivational speaker!”

. Motivating, leading, and coaching has always been a passion of mine and I am fortunate to be able to make a career out of it. 

3. How do you motivate those who don’t want to be motivated?

Ted: You have to first have a human connection with them.   For example, someone who doesn’t want to be motivated won’t respond well to me if I am clapping in their face trying to coach them.  You have to first have a connection with them.  I ask them how they are doing, I learn about their story, their passions, and their families.  It’s easier to motivate when you can connect. 

4. What led you to start your own business?

Ted: I was lucky enough to have a successful athletic career myself.  I graduated from Wesleyan University where I was a First Team All-American goalie on a championship lacrosse team.  That is something I learned at Wesleyan, it is impossible to achieve your individual goals without the success of others around you.  I then got my Masters of Arts in Public Policy in Conflict Resolution and Mediation from Tel Aviv University and I’m currently finishing up my 200-hour yoga teacher certification.  I’ve taken the lessons I’ve learned from being an MVP, All-American, certified international mediator, and yoga instructor to create Never Rattled, my business.  I have put together a mental toughness mode of leadership that focuses on mindfulness, positivity, and a continuous “next play” mentality. It works for businesses and sports teams alike – having a mindful approach is beneficial for people.  Leading through adversity is what it’s all about.

5. You mentioned that there is a correlation between athletes and businesses. Can you talk more about that? 

Ted: Absolutely.  The field of competition carries over to any industry.  In both sports and business, you have your settled and transition phases. Your settled phases are your routine; it is the standard way of life. I find that people struggle in transition phases.  It is difficult to remain calm in these moments, and they are even more difficult to replicate and teach.  In athletics, a transition phase can be when a ball is dropped or a pass is missed.  When things go haywire in business (for example, a pandemic, office tension, issues with supply chain) that’s when leaders are tested. I am focused on teaching people to embrace the grey.  By learning to embrace the grey area in athletics or in business you become okay with mistakes. You learn to accept imperfection and realign your focus on moving forward. One main difference between the field of competition and the business world is that in the sport of lacrosse you can hit people with a stick when they are close to you.  That is frowned upon in a professional setting. 

6. How do you attack setbacks? 

Ted: There is no telling exactly what your setback maybe, but we don’t skip steps on the staircase to greatness. You must hit the first step. The first step can be different depending on your situation. Your first step may be to apologize if you hurt someone’s feelings.  If your setback occurred yesterday, your first step today is getting out of bed.  Your second step is having a nutritious breakfast, and your third is getting your mind in a place where it is able to focus. You will then be set up to attack your setbacks, one step at a time. If you skip steps; you’ll trip. Don’t skip steps. Stay focused on what task is directly in front of you. 

7. I see you are working on getting certified in Yoga instructing as well which is really cool.  How has yoga helped you? What do you like about yoga?

Ted: I love yoga. I found yoga in college when I was managing anxiety myself. I couldn’t find a connection between my mind and my body. I struggled to truly understand what my body was feeling.  Through yoga, I learned that you can always control your next thought.  Yes, your mind may wander, but you always have the ability to bring the attention of your next thought back to your breath.  As long as we are alive, we will have a breath. There is a physical sensation that is associated with this.  Your chest rises.  Your ribs expand.  Air enters and leaves your nose. By focusing on the movement of your breath you can feel the physical sensations associated with it. I like to focus on the breath moving in and out of my nose.  I feel the breath enter and leave at the top of my nose, and it feels like the air is going up and over a mountain.  When you understand that you can always control your next thought, and you realize that your breath will always be there, there is a constant and sustainable place for your mind to anchor. 

8. What is your brand? What do you want others to know about you? If you were not coaching others, what would you be doing? 

Ted: My brand is Never Rattled.  It’s an even-keeled approach to life. We will deal with challenges; we will feel what’s happening, and we will move forward one step at a time. Whether you’re stuck in your own life or business or you’re a D1 lacrosse team looking to win a championship the thought process remains the same. Always locked.  Always Dialed. Never Rattled.  As for my career, leadership is what I always want to do.  I want to positively impact as many people as I can in my time on earth.  If I were not coaching, I would try to be a politician as I believe they have the ability to positively impact a huge amount of people. 

Coach Ted Bergman is in his 2nd season as a Lacrosse Coach at Harvard University, where he has led the goalies and has helped lead the defense to tremendous success. Bergman has taken the lessons learned as an Ivy League Coach, MVP, First Team All-American, Certified International Mediator, and Yoga Instructor to create Never Rattled. 

For more information log on to www.neverrattled.com,