EVERY SPOKEN WORD
125 min read · 25,452 words- 0:00 – 1:07
Leon Scott’s background: football, modeling, and a surprising day job
- CWChris Williamson
(wind blowing) Ladies and gentlemen, welcome back. Leon Scott has joined me.
- LSLeon Scott
Thank you for having me, mate. Thank you for having me.
- CWChris Williamson
Thank you for coming up. I- it's making me feel incredibly pale.
- LSLeon Scott
(laughs)
- CWChris Williamson
And I'm not used to ... Uh, the co-hosts to the show, Johnny and Yusuf, one's a power lifter and one's a gymnast. So I'm not used to being the not- not the leanest person-
- LSLeon Scott
(laughs) .
- CWChris Williamson
... on the couch either, but I think we're competing with each other today, which is, which is totally fine. How are you? Are you good?
- LSLeon Scott
Yeah, I'm good, mate. Very good. Very good, thank you.
- CWChris Williamson
Brilliant. You recently moved football teams, right? You're at a new team.
- LSLeon Scott
I did, mate, yeah. Um, I'm at Whippy Town at the minute. Um, enjoying it. Uh, there's a few lads who I know that have played there. I've played there before, so, um, it's a returning club. Very friendly, family-run club. Um, so yeah, I'm enjoying it, mate, and, uh, it's good to be back enjoying the football.
- CWChris Williamson
Fantastic. So, for the viewers and the listeners that don't know you-
- LSLeon Scott
Mm-hmm.
- CWChris Williamson
... can you give us a little bit of background about what it is that you do? You got a- an interesting eclectic mix of, uh, elements of your life and I want to try and-
- LSLeon Scott
Yes.
- CWChris Williamson
... give a nice background.
- 1:07 – 3:00
How modeling started: SickSilk, early influencer marketing, and first breaks
- LSLeon Scott
Um, a bit about my background. Well, in terms of social media wise, uh, how that sort of all kicked off was, I think it must've been about seven, eight year ago now. Um, I was quite lucky and fortunate. It was actually, funny enough as you've mentioned, I was playing for Whippy Town-
- CWChris Williamson
(laughs) .
- LSLeon Scott
... how it all started. Um, I was playing for Whippy Town, just normal football, going about my normal thing and, uh, there was a young guy with an idea of a clothing brand back then, seven/eight, seven, eight years ago. It wasn't really a big thing back then. Well, not many people had done it. It was, uh, now you see every other person's making a clothing brand, but back then, it was more like only your Nikes, your Adidas, and so on and so on. Um, so yeah, he had an i- he had an idea. He asked me would I model his brand. Um, back then, I'd never done no modeling. I probably wasn't as confident in front of a camera, um, so I said, "Yeah, yeah, let's give it a go." Um, he was from Scarborough. Met up at Scarborough, um, and we just did a few shoots. And funny enough, the brand now is probably one of the biggest brands within the industry that I've worked in, which that being SickSilk.
- CWChris Williamson
Mm.
- LSLeon Scott
Uh-
- CWChris Williamson
I think they are, they were like the first mover-
- LSLeon Scott
They were the- Yeah, they were the-
- CWChris Williamson
Right?
- LSLeon Scott
Back then, they were the first people to do it. Um, I believe they were the first people to do it. It was a big thing to get it on a reality TV star back then.
- CWChris Williamson
Mm-hmm.
- LSLeon Scott
Um, you know, if you could get it on someone from Geordie Shore, from TOWIE, et cetera, et cetera, it was a big thing. Um, now it's just the norm. Um, so he managed to do that back then and that-
- CWChris Williamson
That's all they wore.
- LSLeon Scott
Exactly.
- CWChris Williamson
I remember, you know, anyone who remembers like the proper heyday.
- LSLeon Scott
Yeah.
- CWChris Williamson
Scotty T and-
- LSLeon Scott
Yeah.
- CWChris Williamson
... and, and Gaz and those guys.
- LSLeon Scott
Yeah.
- CWChris Williamson
That was the-
- LSLeon Scott
Yeah. So that, that was it, and that, that was his big break, um, because back then they wanted to wear it. Um, it was, it was okay to wear it. Now it's, it's I'll only wear it if-
- CWChris Williamson
Yeah.
- LSLeon Scott
... it's endorsements, et cetera, et cetera.
- CWChris Williamson
Yeah.
- 3:00 – 7:25
Footasylum Ibiza and the reality of “glamorous” work
- LSLeon Scott
So it's a lot harder now. Um, so yeah, so that, that's how it all started for me. Um, I modeled for him, um, and then more brands approached me, um, Jim King, B Inspired, a lot of other big brands. Um, I think my big break came from Footasylum. They approached me and asked me to do a campaign out in Ibiza. Um, and for me, it was somewhere I've always went on holiday, so to go there-
- CWChris Williamson
(laughs)
- LSLeon Scott
... and actually be paid, uh-
- CWChris Williamson
And be able to see.
- LSLeon Scott
Yeah. It was a-
- CWChris Williamson
(laughs)
- LSLeon Scott
It was a bit of an eye-opener because I do remember we were doing a shoot in, uh, in Ocean Beach and it was holiday season, so (laughs) we'd been sectioned off in one corner trying to do a photo shoot and everyone else is in Ocean Beach partying, dancing, and raving.
- CWChris Williamson
Brits, Brits abroad.
- LSLeon Scott
Exactly. Giving it this and all that while-
- CWChris Williamson
(laughs) Yeah.
- LSLeon Scott
... while I'm trying to keep a straight face.
- CWChris Williamson
(laughs)
- LSLeon Scott
Um, so yeah, that was a bit of an experience. But, uh, from then, it's just been a, a complete snowball effect for me. But, um, on top of that, right at the start, I've always worked full time, so it was quite hard to interlink it all together because my full time job for six year was working with, uh, people with autism and Down syndrome.
- CWChris Williamson
Okay.
- LSLeon Scott
Um, so although that was intense, that was very rewarding as well. So when I did get a chance to do the photo shoots, for me, it was more of a, not, not so much of a day off, but more of a like, wow, can I, is this ... I'm getting paid to do ... It wasn't, didn't feel like work.
- CWChris Williamson
Yeah.
- LSLeon Scott
Um, so obviously, when I went back to my normal day work, it, I w- I was full of energy and very grateful of, of, of me being able to do that when these guys potentially maybe never experienced what I was experiencing.
- CWChris Williamson
Mm-hmm.
- LSLeon Scott
Um, so I did find a lot about myself in between all that, um, and I just, it was just, like I say, a complete snowball effect.
- CWChris Williamson
You got a big contrast there, right?
- LSLeon Scott
Mm-hmm.
- CWChris Williamson
So you, you know, you're going to go and work with people who've got learning difficulties-
- LSLeon Scott
Mm-hmm.
- CWChris Williamson
... and, and real behavioral problems, and then you're going out to some of the best party destinations on the planet.
- LSLeon Scott
Exactly.
- CWChris Williamson
So it is a, I mean, that will be, must feel like a real contrast.
- LSLeon Scott
It was. It wa- it was, like I say, that, that, I think that right at the early stages is where I did learn a lot about myself 'cause there was some jobs I had been on and, you know, and every job I went on, I am still to this day like blown away by me, I'm getting paid for doing this. Um, you know, and, and I think that's when it all started for me in terms of, um, like, appreciating and all that type of stuff, because when I went back to my day job, you know, it, it, it was just a complete, it was just two completely different fields of, of area of work. Um, so when I was on the modeling type thing, um, it, it, there was some people that I did do jobs with and, and like they didn't really fully appreciate what they were doing or what they were given or the opportunities of where they are and what was going on.
- CWChris Williamson
Mm-hmm.
- LSLeon Scott
It was still a bit of a sometimes a snotty attitude. "I'm the model. I'm this." And I was just, sometimes that really confused me with people. Um, and to this day, seven, eight, nine years down the line, I still try not to give that type attitude, you know-
- CWChris Williamson
Mm-hmm.
- 7:25 – 9:28
Support worker life: helping people with autism and Down syndrome
- CWChris Williamson
So what was the actual role that you were doing with, uh, people with learning difficulties and people with autism
- LSLeon Scott
It was basically managing them to live their everyday life. Uh-
- CWChris Williamson
What was the, what's the job role, title?
- LSLeon Scott
Um, support worker.
- CWChris Williamson
Support worker.
- LSLeon Scott
So I was a support worker. So it's basically their, their struggle to, to living everyday life as we do. Um, things like get up, brush teeth, get the bus, go to college, go to work, um, go to doctor's, go to hospital, see family, et cetera, et cetera. So we'd, we'd help them and support them within that day. Um, so I'd go to work. I'd get delegated with one, one individual. Um, and I'd support him throughout his day, made sure that he lived a life as normal as he could, uh, within his means as everyone else. Uh, you know, 'cause, 'cause they do struggle, like they wanted to go and visit parents. "What bus do I get? Where do I go?" We'd support them with that, and we'd make sure their, like I say, living life to the fullest as much as they can.
- CWChris Williamson
Were you employed by the NHS for that?
- LSLeon Scott
Um, it was... No, it was a company by UBU. Um, the b- I believe they're based in Harrogate.
- CWChris Williamson
Right.
- LSLeon Scott
But they have, like, they had about seven houses within the Northeast, so.
- CWChris Williamson
So people lived on site?
- LSLeon Scott
Yes. So it was, uh, it was like a tenants of... Say, it was a big house with five tenants in, and we had a staff team of, say, 10, 15 people. And obviously, w- that's... But there was different houses around the area. But the house I was based and worked was, they were all young and very outgoing because that's what I liked. And not that... I did go to the other houses, but they were more so the older age who like to sit and watch telly and play board games.
- CWChris Williamson
Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm.
- LSLeon Scott
Um, and I think to get my full attention and my, to be able for me to deliver the best I could, I'd like to be more hands-on and like, you know, like pass on my fitness type of thing-
- CWChris Williamson
Yeah.
- LSLeon Scott
... like going to football. I brought some of them to my football games, took them to the gym. You know what I mean? Try, tried to push them. Like, a lot of them were young lads and wanted to live like young lads-
- CWChris Williamson
Mm-hmm.
- LSLeon Scott
... but maybe didn't have the confidence, maybe didn't have the support. And, and that's what we were there for.
- CWChris Williamson
That's awesome.
- LSLeon Scott
Mm-hmm.
- CWChris Williamson
So you've touched on it there that you also play football. So we've gone through one part of your life, which is the, uh, the modeling and Instagram. Gone to another, which is the support worker.
- LSLeon Scott
Yeah, yeah.
- 9:28 – 11:03
Semi-pro football at Darlington: leadership, promotions, and intensity
- CWChris Williamson
And you're also semi-professional?
- LSLeon Scott
Yes, semi-professional. Back then, I was at Darlington. So, uh, that was quite intense. I was, uh-
- CWChris Williamson
Darlington's a very high-level football team.
- LSLeon Scott
It was, yeah. We were, uh, f- I was there for six year and we won four promotions in that year. I was captain for three years. So that was a very successful, uh, time at Darlington, uh, with- won a lot of promotions. The club got, um, (clicks tongue) the, the, they went down five leagues. There's a big story behind it. I don't know if you're not aware of it. Back then, back then, they were, I think it was bankrupt, so they were in a big stadium. They dropped down five leagues and-
- CWChris Williamson
That would have been at Feethoven's, right?
- LSLeon Scott
Yeah, that's right. So they drop down. Um, it's always been run like a professional club. There's, I haven't got a bad, bad word to say about the club. Uh, you know, the, the big fan base. For a non-league team, still getting like 1,500 through the gate, which some League Two clubs don't even get that. Um, so yeah, it was a very good time there. We won, like I say, four promotions. And so it was a little bit, a lot (sighs) I say hard. It was, it was hard, but it wasn't hard because everything I was doing didn't feel like it was hard, if you get me. Like, it wasn't like I do-
- CWChris Williamson
(laughs)
- LSLeon Scott
... like these guys that go to work and, you know, a, a brickie or whatever you wanna call it. Like, I feel they graft. I feel like that is hard work.
- CWChris Williamson
Agreed.
- LSLeon Scott
And, you know, and so for everything I was doing, I was obviously modeling, flying around the world, going to work, uh, in, in terms of support, support work, helping the young lads, and then I was going to football. None of that felt like I was really grafting, apart from the only time is when I was going in the gym. (laughs)
- CWChris Williamson
Yeah.
- LSLeon Scott
And I was, that was the only time where I was coming to work, I was thinking, "God, I feel knackered here."
- CWChris Williamson
Yeah.
- 11:03 – 11:51
Balancing three demanding lives: training, energy, and time discipline
- LSLeon Scott
But yeah, it was just trying to keep all the three together and keep them all tight, because if one fell, I felt like it linked into the other, and so on and so on. So I needed to keep in shape because of the modeling, and I wasn't allowed to get too big because of the football, you know, and it wasn't allowed to get too tired because then I'd underperform at my job. So it-
- CWChris Williamson
It's a delicate balancing act.
- LSLeon Scott
Yeah. It w- it w- it was hard. And people say, "How, how do you fit it all in?" But (coughs) there's that old cliche, there's 24 hours in a day. And you know, there's, there's some days where I've traveled to, to London and arrived at 8:00, uh, 11:00 at night. I've got to be up at 7:00. And there's a 24-hour gym or something in the hotel. I'll go down, show a quick 45 minutes, half an hour, get to bed. So I would always make sure I, I'd done something to keep within a feelgood factor, because if I didn't, I felt... it, it affected my attitude and the way I felt. So it was like...
- 11:51 – 21:58
Mindset and self-evaluation: productivity guilt and learning to rest
- CWChris Williamson
What's your natural personality? What's your natural kind of mindset like, you know, without you, um... If you've just got a normal day and you're-
- LSLeon Scott
Uh-huh.
- CWChris Williamson
... going about your business, what's your mindset like? And then what's it like if you don't train, and then what's it like if you get it really good? Do you have swings in mood swings?
- LSLeon Scott
I wouldn't say mood swings in terms of... Uh, I'd, I'd feel, um...The more I tend to do, the more energy I've got. The less I do, the less energy I've got. So I like to stay busy in terms of going to the gym, being productive. Um, if, if I find myself sat around doing nothing, I feel... I always feel guilty on myself as if it's time wasted. Um, I find it hard to sh- to shut off, um, which my g- my girlfriend always says, "Just relax. You're allowed to watch telly, you're allowed to do nothing."
- CWChris Williamson
Mm-hmm.
- LSLeon Scott
And I'm like, "Well, no, it's time wasted." I can be reading, I can be listening to podcasts. I can be working on something. I can be at the gym. I always feel like I've got to be doing something and if I don't... I have learned to accept, which my mindfulness h- has allowed me to do that, I have learned to accept that it is okay to do nothing.
- CWChris Williamson
Mm-hmm.
- LSLeon Scott
Uh, whereas in the past I did struggle with it and there's still times when I do struggle with it 'cause like I say, I like being very active-
- CWChris Williamson
Mm-hmm.
- LSLeon Scott
... in, in, in learning and progressing. Like, what have I done today that's made me feel better or what have I done today to improve or... These are the type of questions that I ask myself before I go to sleep each night and if, and if I ain't got an answer for any, nine times out of ten I have a bad sleep 'cause I can't wait to get up the next day to-
- CWChris Williamson
Get after it again.
- LSLeon Scott
... yeah, to change these an- these answers that I've given myself.
- CWChris Williamson
Uh, uh, it's interesting that there's a lot of parallels that I can draw between your experience and mine. You know, some of the, some of the listeners at home may be surprised to hear that someone who is a pro- semi-professional footballer and-
- LSLeon Scott
Mm-hmm.
- CWChris Williamson
... an Instagram model and, you know, flying around the world modeling for brands that are worn by party boys and party girls-
- LSLeon Scott
Yep.
- CWChris Williamson
... is also one of... Your main concerns is, "What sort of value am I adding to my life and the life of, lives of others?"
- LSLeon Scott
Yeah.
- CWChris Williamson
It sounds quite contrary, right?
- LSLeon Scott
Yes. Oh, yeah.
- CWChris Williamson
It's a different sort of mindset.
- LSLeon Scott
It, it... Yeah. You can see why people think that and look at that but, you know, I, I want... (sighs) Which is the reason I did release my two books. It, it was to give some people back of what I've, like, done myself and learned myself, test, trial and error. You know what I mean? I always get... Which goes back to my job of supported living. Um, I always get a kick out of helping someone maybe progress or, you know, just, just chatting to someone in terms of, "What can I help with?" If I can't, maybe we can just have a chat and listen. You don't have to take it in, you know. But I- I'm always open to help and I want to help.
- CWChris Williamson
Mm-hmm.
- LSLeon Scott
'Cause I, I get like a, a little buzz off that, that that person has, has maybe learned something off me or maybe I've passed something on I've learned off someone else. 'Cause I always feel like, although I like to give advice, I'm always wanting to learn as well. I'm not... I'm n- I'm never gonna be a master. I will alwa-... That, that... The old saying, "I'm never gonna be a master, I'll always be a t- uh, a learner." You know, I'm always wanting-
- CWChris Williamson
Yeah.
- LSLeon Scott
... to learn.
- CWChris Williamson
Yeah.
- LSLeon Scott
Um, so yeah, it, it... You can see in obviously that type, type of lifestyle, but it's-
- CWChris Williamson
If you t- if you take the headlines, if you take the headlines, semi-professional footballer-
- LSLeon Scott
Yeah.
- 21:58 – 26:43
From “I hate reading” to meditation: Calm app and a Buddhist center
- LSLeon Scott
Yeah. Well, it all started with a... (sighs) I wasn't very well-behaved at school in terms of I had a very short attention span. I couldn't really sit in class and listen too much. Uh, wasn't very good at reading and writing. Um, so it's, it was like I used to always see people on holiday reading books and I used to think, "Why the fuck they're reading a book?" You know? And, and, and I'd be like, now I get it, you know?
- CWChris Williamson
Was that as a, was that as a kid maybe?
- LSLeon Scott
As a kid, yeah, of course. That was a kid and I, I, I just didn't get it. I used to think, "I'd rather be bombing in the pool."
- CWChris Williamson
Mm-hmm.
- LSLeon Scott
"I'd rather be at the bar." Like-
- CWChris Williamson
Yeah.
- LSLeon Scott
... "You're wasting your time," but they're not now. Like, I get it, you know what I mean? So it comes into where my first book was, uh, Motivation Manifesto by Brendan, uh, Butcher. And, uh, it was like, I read that and I, and I... everything just started being so clear and making sense. And then I downloaded an app called Calm, which was free for seven days for anyone listening, maybe give it a go. Um, and I, I done 15, it's like 15 minutes of meditation. And the reason I enjoyed it is because I put it into practice and it worked actually, bro. (instrumental music plays) And it worked, you know. It was like, "Wow, this shit really works." Like, I'd do it, and what I was getting told, I'd be like, "All right, okay, I'm gonna try that." And then I'd try it, and I'd get a good feeling or a good reaction back. So it was just like... it, it just, it just progressed. And then from the app, I started googling courses. There's a course, uh, not far from me, um, the main Buddhist monk center in Darlington. And there's a guy that comes round our area every Monday, and I all meet up with him. We've got very friendly with him. I've learnt a lot off him. Um, and, and just even- just when I walked into the room my first... I just remember my first day when I went into the room, um, I ju- I ju- it was... I just looked at him and just without him even speaking, I was just like, "You look so happy."
- CWChris Williamson
(laughs)
- LSLeon Scott
Like, like, you know, like... and, and he sits telling us stuff at the front and, uh, and, and the way he's telling his stories and he's just chuckling at himself and the... And he's saying like, he's explaining like a pro- is a problem really a problem? Like, going into detail and I'm like, "It's not. No, like, what you are saying is fucking powerful and it's real. It's, you're like... I've never heard this before. I've never experienced this before." And he used to always say himself, like, "I ain't just saying this because I want to say it. I'm saying it because it really works, you know. This, this is... this, this type of stuff actually works. Um, so try it."
- CWChris Williamson
Yeah.
- LSLeon Scott
So, like, it was one of them where I, I, I did try it, I put things into practice and it, and it just progressed. And every time, like, I do more, I want to do more and more and more and more. So yeah, that, that's what all started. It was, it's... And I'm still on that journey now. Uh, I want, you know, I wanna learn more, I want to go deeper. I want to maybe travel and do more meditation and learn more about it.Um, I try to stick to 15 minutes a day. There are some guys out there that do two hours a day. You know, maybe I'm not... I know I... Well, I don't think, I know I'm not at that stage yet-
- CWChris Williamson
Mm-hmm.
- LSLeon Scott
... because it, it's hard, but-
- CWChris Williamson
It's very, very difficult.
- LSLeon Scott
Yeah.
- CWChris Williamson
Yeah.
- LSLeon Scott
But, you know, I, I did at the start... Don't get me wrong. At the start we, um, we went to the class and one of my... Me and my best mate, when we first went the ex- the... When I told you about. And some parts we did look at each other and chuckle and think, "What the fuck is this?"
- CWChris Williamson
(laughs)
- LSLeon Scott
And... But back then, we're looking a- and it... You know, and maybe that's why people don't do it, 'cause they think, "Whoa, whoa, close your eyes. Hmm." They think it's all this type of stuff, but-
- CWChris Williamson
Yeah.
- LSLeon Scott
... it's actually not. It's, it, it's working on becoming a better person from within, you know. And a lot of people want to work on what looks good-
- CWChris Williamson
Mm-hmm.
- LSLeon Scott
... but a lot of people are blinding on working on what feels good.
- CWChris Williamson
Fantastic. Fantastic point.
- LSLeon Scott
You know what I mean?
- CWChris Williamson
I think one of the things that's super interesting is that doing... When you work in an industry like modeling, very transactional, very surface deep, and the whole Instagram thing, it is awash with people that have got undiagnosed, um, mental health problems, or charisma issues, or, uh, in- insecurities that they're then projecting on social media.
- LSLeon Scott
Mm-hmm.
- CWChris Williamson
And (clears throat) something that I always thought would be hilarious would be if, in some different iteration of the world, we were able to have an Instagram that instead of showing someone's outward condition was able to represent someone's inward condition.
- LSLeon Scott
Mm-hmm.
- CWChris Williamson
And if you were able to compare the person who's got a lot of followers and looks happy and is-
- 26:43 – 30:32
What meditation actually trains: thoughts, letting go, and progressive overload
- CWChris Williamson
Um, to hear that you said that doing two hours a day is difficult... And people think, "Oh, you're just sitting, sitting alone with your thoughts. How hard can it be?"
- LSLeon Scott
Mm-hmm.
- CWChris Williamson
Let me tell you, I went and did a, uh, meditation retreat in between Christmas and New Year.
- LSLeon Scott
Mm-hmm.
- CWChris Williamson
So, there's a place at Belse up here, Tibetan temple, that we went to go and do that, and myself and Youssef, who's done a 10-day, 10-hours-a-day retreat previously-
- LSLeon Scott
10 hours a day? Sheesh.
- CWChris Williamson
Yeah. So he was, he was, uh, already quite well-conditioned towards this, but for me it was gonna be new ground.
- LSLeon Scott
Yeah.
- CWChris Williamson
And, um, the plan was to do... To total 10 hours of cumulative practice throughout the day. And we got to six and I just had nothing left in the tank.
- LSLeon Scott
Uh-huh.
- CWChris Williamson
And it's, it's difficult for me to describe what it feels like to have nothing left in the tank with regards to meditation because-
- LSLeon Scott
Yeah.
- CWChris Williamson
... inherently it's quite a relaxed environment to be in. But when your day is spent silencing your mind, noticing thoughts as they rise into consciousness, labeling them and getting rid of them, and then starting again and focusing on your breath, like it's like doing-
- LSLeon Scott
It's tiring.
- CWChris Williamson
... it's the same as doing a marathon.
- LSLeon Scott
It's tiring. I know, yeah. It's tiring.
- CWChris Williamson
It really is.
- LSLeon Scott
Yeah. But that, that's what, that's, that's what I mean by a lot of people... You worked at that and you kept going on that. And that's obviously sort of the stage that I'm at. Like, my girlfriend, she does it sometimes with me, but sometimes she struggles with these thoughts that come and whatever comes.
- CWChris Williamson
Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm.
- LSLeon Scott
So... But she only thinks of these thoughts when she tries to meditate.
- CWChris Williamson
Mm-hmm.
- LSLeon Scott
So she tries to keep herself busy other ways so she doesn't think of these thoughts.
- CWChris Williamson
Yes.
- LSLeon Scott
Um, so she, she, uh, she's learning, she's getting better. But what I try to pass to her, that's, that's normal, that's okay, you know?
- CWChris Williamson
Mm-hmm.
- LSLeon Scott
Th- these thoughts will come, you know, it, it's learned to accept. Uh, and, and, and like we say, brushing them aside, they'll come again, accept, brush them aside. And it's like anything, you know, you go to the gym, you train your bicep, you do it twice, you do three times, it gets bigger, it gets a little stronger, gets wider, and it's exactly the same as the mind. Like I said, where you're doing 30 seconds today. Right? Okay, we'll do 40 seconds tomorrow.
- CWChris Williamson
Progressive overload is key, man.
- LSLeon Scott
Yeah, exactly, man. Yeah, and that, and that's, that's key. And then it's just, it's every day you just, you know, just that little more, that little more, and the, and these thoughts become less, you know, and, and them thoughts that you used to think of in the first 10 seconds, you might not even think about for the first four minutes.
- CWChris Williamson
Totally right.
- LSLeon Scott
Um-
- 30:32 – 33:56
Mindfulness in sport and training: aggression control and reframing problems
- CWChris Williamson
So-But something else that I really, (coughs) I really wanted to talk about was your training.
- LSLeon Scott
Mm-hmm.
- CWChris Williamson
I think that, you know, a lot of people know you online from the fact that you do online courses a- and you are in, in good condition, and stuff like that.
- LSLeon Scott
Mm-hmm.
- CWChris Williamson
How do you think that marrying the, the mindfulness and, and the training stuff, and your sport as well, has, has working on your mind helped you with regards to your performance-
- LSLeon Scott
Oh, massively.
- CWChris Williamson
... in the gym and your performance at football?
- LSLeon Scott
Massively. Um, in terms of football, I used to be a r- a, still sort of am because it's sort of my game, um, a really aggressive player. Um, I'm a center mid, the aggressive, the ball tackler, the break it up, pass it on-
- CWChris Williamson
Mm-hmm.
- LSLeon Scott
... move it on, the not so talented one. Um-
- CWChris Williamson
Modern-day Vinnie Jones?
- LSLeon Scott
Exactly. Um, so yeah, so but it's allowed me, as I've got older, the mindfulness is to control these. You know, I, I've got a lot of sending offs back in my day, but now I'm a bit more, a bit more clever about the way I go about things. Because like I said, the mindfulness has helped me with that to deal with like, you will always get the odd player winding each other up or ... I always feel like I can win that mental battle when we're winding each other up now, you know? So, so the, the mindfulness has definitely helped me on the football pitch. Um, and also like learning to control situations in the heat of the moment. Um, 'cause everything that arises for me, not just in a football but in life, in the gym, my first thought is practice. It's training. It's training. You know, so if I become, if a, if a difficult challenge comes ahead, perfect opportunity for my mind to get trained now.
- CWChris Williamson
Mm-hmm.
- LSLeon Scott
Um, instead of, "Oh, shit. I can't deal with this," for me, it's like, "Oh, brilliant. This, this problem's come up, so this is a perfect opportunity for my mind to, to tackle this problem and overcome this problem. And without this problem, my mind wouldn't get stronger." Um, so things like that on the pitch in my mi- like the mindfulness has definitely helped me. Within the gym, it's made things a lot more clear and a lot more, um, acceptable for me. You know, like, like I said, back in the day where I got really big and it wasn't acceptable for modeling, and then I'd have to trim down for football, you know? So there was a bit of a like, a b- I was always battling with things. So now I feel like I've found that like, that, you know, that, that fight club, lean type look that everyone types like, you know? I'm, I wouldn't say everyone, but majority of people do like that lean look. Um, all each to their own. I know some have got to do competitions, et cetera, et cetera, so. But yeah, I think overall, the, the mindfulness I think has massively helped me in, in, in all, everything I do, in my work, my football, my gym. Um, which is why I, like I said, which is why put it into practice. Like anyone watching, give it a go and put it into practice, and you will see. It's not, it's not just me saying it because I want you to do it or, you know, I'm saying-
- CWChris Williamson
We're not on a commission scheme here for meditation-
- LSLeon Scott
Yeah. (laughs)
- CWChris Williamson
... Worldwide Meditation Minute.
- LSLeon Scott
I'm just saying it because it, it, it's worked. Like the, the, the shit's like, it's, it's happen- I wouldn't do s- I won't ... Put it this way, you wouldn't continue to do summat that's not working, that's not giving you-
- CWChris Williamson
Sure.
- LSLeon Scott
... good feelings.
- CWChris Williamson
Well, you know, you look at, you know, as a good example as well for yourself, you are a, a guy that wants to try and continue to refine different elements of his life, right?
- LSLeon Scott
Yeah.
- CWChris Williamson
So you're looking at, "I didn't read, now I read, and I didn't approach football in this way, and now I do. And I used to train in this particular fashion, but I found that this worked better for me."
- LSLeon Scott
Mm-hmm.
- CWChris Williamson
You're totally right. Like-
- LSLeon Scott
Yeah.
- CWChris Williamson
... do you think it, that if mindfulness wasn't working for you, that you'd just continue to smash your head against the wall for 15 minutes every single day?
- LSLeon Scott
T- uh, yeah.
- CWChris Williamson
No, you wouldn't. You would, you would-
- 33:56 – 37:54
British skepticism and masculinity: making mindfulness ‘acceptable’
- LSLeon Scott
But, that's what I'm saying.
- CWChris Williamson
... you're doing it because you get this thing out of it. I, I think, I don't ... What do you think is the UK's or the, the normal UK, um, young person's approach towards when you s- when you mention mindfulness? Because sometimes when I say it to people, I just get this look and it's like, uh, I, I, I don't know.
- LSLeon Scott
Uh, I think, I think-
- CWChris Williamson
It's like I, it's like I've spoken about being a fucking stamp collector or something.
- LSLeon Scott
Yeah. Well, uh, going back to my younger days, how, how I would have thought, if you told me when I was a bit younger, uh, and probably the rebel that I was and a little bit of that background, but if you told me it now, I'd be like, "Oh, god." You know, my first picture-
- CWChris Williamson
Sit alone with my thoughts for 15 minutes.
- LSLeon Scott
Yeah. My f- well, my first thought is these guys in these dresses and you know, and it's like, "Who the fuck wants to do that?" And that, that's pr- probably majority of what a lot of lads or younger lads would do or, or the mayor to be like, "What? You sit there with a monk who meditates? Oh, that's not cool." You know? But it's like, but you go to the gym and you're working on your outer look. How about try and work on your inner look and see the difference in how you feel? So it's just becoming, you know, more aware and showing people that it works and, and, and letting people accept it, you know, and, and, and doing it. So, so yeah, i- it's one of them. It's, I think it's a bit m- not daunting, but maybe a bit ... it's not a bit manly for a man to sit and do a-
- CWChris Williamson
Very, very much so.
- LSLeon Scott
... do a meditation thing.
- CWChris Williamson
And I think, man, I, I think that's, that's a good point that as, you know, when both northern lads, like we're both from Teesside, like it's not the sort of place that I heard meditation talked about an awful lot as I grew up.
- LSLeon Scott
No.
- CWChris Williamson
Like, and you know, maybe if we were in LA-
- LSLeon Scott
Yeah. Oh. (laughs)
- CWChris Williamson
... and there was like a fucking juice bar on every corner-
- LSLeon Scott
(laughs)
- CWChris Williamson
... and you know, everyone's vegan and they're, you know, wearing no, not wearing any shoes. Everyone's-
- LSLeon Scott
Yeah.
- CWChris Williamson
... walking around fucking barefoot.
- LSLeon Scott
Then it becomes type cool
- NANarrator
(inaudible 00:04:55) .
- CWChris Williamson
It's just, it's more, I think that kind of more progressive side of things i- is there. And obviously, America's got a lot of different influences on it, it's quite fast-moving. Um, there's something inherent as well I think in the British people that everything's just a bit shit.
- LSLeon Scott
Yeah.
- CWChris Williamson
Do you know what I mean? Like everyone's like, "The weather's crap."
- LSLeon Scott
Yeah.
- CWChris Williamson
"And oh, then craps fucking ruined."
- LSLeon Scott
It, it's just that type of mood thing, innit? Yeah.
- CWChris Williamson
"There's traffic and there's this and there's that."
- LSLeon Scott
Yeah.
- CWChris Williamson
And I think everyone tends to be a little bit more critical about it. But what I think-
- LSLeon Scott
But that, that, but that, that's what I mean. That is the r- for me, that is the reason why you need to do it.
- 37:54 – 39:45
Letting go in daily life: the ‘bucket’ model and anger as a hot coal
- LSLeon Scott
There was a, there was a da- on that, there was some type of diagram a few year ago that I seen in terms of like you're saying the traffic, you know, all these little things that annoy you, is, is that... it's, it's like a bucket type thing. And, you know, if you get up on the morning and, and you stand on summat and like, "Fuck."
- CWChris Williamson
Like an upturned plug.
- LSLeon Scott
So the bucket goes up, yeah, exactly, and it goes up. Then you go and look for your toothbrush, you can't find it, you're getting more annoyed, the bucket goes higher. You know, then you can't find your car keys, it goes higher. Then the smallest thing like the light changes from amber to red just before you get there, and it's like, "Fuck!"
- CWChris Williamson
(laughs)
- LSLeon Scott
It's like now the bucket overflows. So it's instead of like, oh, instead of standing on that plug of like, right, okay, I've let, like, let go, it's gone.
- CWChris Williamson
Yeah.
- LSLeon Scott
And then bring it back down. But like that's what, that's what you were on about there is like little things annoy you, annoy you, and then you'll have this real big outburst maybe when you get to her and you think... two minutes after you think, "Oh, fuck, I shouldn't have done that."
- CWChris Williamson
I shouldn't have done that. Yeah.
- LSLeon Scott
And because it's all come from these little buildups that you've not let go of and you're still holding onto and getting really aggressive and really annoyed at, you know. But-
- CWChris Williamson
It's the straw that broke the camel's back, right?
- LSLeon Scott
Yeah. But you can't... but we can't see that or... because it's within the mind. It's... and there's that old saying of, you know, if, if I give you a hot coal in your hand, what would be the first thing you do? You'd leave go of it.
- CWChris Williamson
Yeah.
- LSLeon Scott
You know? So if- if- if a thought's hurting you and bringing you pain, why are you still walking around with it like, "Oh, Chris, you're doing my head in yeah, so I'm gonna walk around all day ........................."
- CWChris Williamson
Yeah.
- LSLeon Scott
And like that to... that's, that's just painful, you know. It's all like, "All right, Chris, it's me and it's over. Let go."
- CWChris Williamson
Yeah.
- LSLeon Scott
Gone. And it's like if people can visually see that, which is what I've learned and what I've learned, if you can visually see that, you'd let go of it straight away.
- CWChris Williamson
Well, they say anger is holding onto a hot coal-
- LSLeon Scott
Yeah.
- CWChris Williamson
... in the hopes of throwing it at somebody else.
- LSLeon Scott
Exactly, yeah. So you're just walking around trying to look for someone else to, to let it out on.
- CWChris Williamson
Unload- unload your-
- LSLeon Scott
Yeah.
- CWChris Williamson
... your anger on.
- LSLeon Scott
Yeah. And then, and then after that, become regret and everything else.
- 39:45 – 44:33
Using influence responsibly: defining his message and redefining happiness
- CWChris Williamson
Yeah. Um, one of the things that I wanted to move on to was talking about the platform that you've got-
- LSLeon Scott
Mm-hmm.
- CWChris Williamson
... and that other people have online and what they're using that for.
- LSLeon Scott
Mm-hmm.
- CWChris Williamson
So I mean, if you were to try and... wha- wha- how would you define the message that you want to try and get across to people?
- LSLeon Scott
Um, the message I try to get across to people li... is there are a lot of opportunities out there to keep learning and progressing, um, whatever field you're working in, whatever area you're wanting to improve. Um, you know, there's, there's a lot of stuff out there and that I'm still learning that, uh, and that's why I'm still progressing into that. Um, I'm just trying to give off not this luxury life that... don't get me wrong, a lot of people like it, it's good to have, but you've got to try... the, the journey I'm on is trying to find happiness from within, you know, and, and, and putting that back to people, what I'm learning, I'm wanting to put back to people. So yeah, i- i- it's a, it's a big journey, but that's one of the main reasons that I want to use my social or my platform from. I do get, I do understand, uh, there's a lot of big people out there that you do have to use it for some type of income, you know, some work, you've got to do sponsored posts, I do get that, and there will be times where I may have to do that.
- CWChris Williamson
Mm-hmm.
- LSLeon Scott
But the, the main reasons is obviously I want to push out there that there is also faults, there's not always, you know... it's not always luxuries ..........................
- CWChris Williamson
What does, what does happiness mean to you then?
- LSLeon Scott
Happiness means to me, um, helping others progress within their life, um, and finding more about themself, I'd like to say. So I'm... like I say, I'm still learning that about myself so I can't... you know, if- if- if my loved ones are happy around me, the people who I love, um, are comfortable, happy and pain-free, um, I think, I think that, that is my overall aim. I- it's amazing to have all these luxuries and attachments that go with it, but I think that become... that comes because of society and what people are pushing on you, and he's got the latest trainers, so I've got the... but would you really get them if it wasn't a trend, if it wasn't a fashion, et cetera, you know. It's, it's, it's finding something else that makes you happy and not something that's an attachment.
- CWChris Williamson
Yeah. I mean, the hedonic treadmill, there's a, a really interesting study that Yusuf cites all the time where he talks about people who become disabled and lose the use of their legs and people who win the lottery and have like an un- essentially an unlimited amount of money, their self-rated happiness after six months is the same.
- LSLeon Scott
Mm-hmm.
- CWChris Williamson
So they have this particular baseline of happiness at month zero, then this incident occurs and they split off, and then by the time you get back to six months, both of them have adapted.
- LSLeon Scott
Right.
- CWChris Williamson
So I think people that presume that material goods will bring them happiness...... are chasing down-
- LSLeon Scott
Mm-hmm.
- CWChris Williamson
... a, a, a, an endless treadmill that's not really actually got anything at the end of it.
- LSLeon Scott
Yeah, exactly. E- but like, um, I recently learned that in one of my courses on, uh, meditation that, you know, attachments will eventually cause suffering and pain. You know, if you're relying on attachment for your happiness, you know, "Oh, I want the next big car. Okay, I've got a car. Oh, now I want another car." So you're of- like you're saying there, you're forever chasing something for your happiness that's only giving you temporary happiness. And again, this is something I've learned and- and wanted to progress in terms of trying to find happiness from within, so I'm just happy just sitting with you chatting.
- CWChris Williamson
Mm-hmm.
- LSLeon Scott
You know? And like, all I do... Don't get me wrong, I'm, I'm not saying I don't like a nice car, I don't like nice clothes, 'cause that's the industry that I'm in.
- CWChris Williamson
Mm-hmm.
- LSLeon Scott
You know, and that's the industry that sometimes I feel like I've got to be in, um, t- to, to still have the connection to be able to still speak and pass a message. You still got to come across cool and not crazy. You know?
- CWChris Williamson
If you were gi- if you were given the choice, would you just be in a pair of elephant pants and barefoot?
- LSLeon Scott
Yeah, I really would. If that, if that, if that was acceptable. But again, that's me, um... How can I say it? If that was acceptable in terms of... 'Cause if, if, if I just done that now, people would go, "Leon's lost the plot."
- CWChris Williamson
(laughs)
- LSLeon Scott
(laughs) Literally. And no one would listen to me and what I'm trying to pass out and what I'm trying to say.
- CWChris Williamson
Yeah.
- LSLeon Scott
Um, you know, so there's a lot of celebrities that's done it where people think, "Oh, he's gone crazy." But when you look at like-
- CWChris Williamson
Jim Carrey.
- LSLeon Scott
J- there you go. Perfect example. I was always ... I was gonna say Keanu Reeves, but yeah-
- 44:33 – 55:32
“Play the game” on Instagram: image vs essence, and resources to start
- CWChris Williamson
So I think you, you've touched on something that's really interesting there which is that, uh, an easy criticism of what you've put across and what I, what I put across as well is, "Yeah, like, good one, mate. You talk about all of this mindfulness bollocks."
- LSLeon Scott
Mm-hmm.
- CWChris Williamson
"But like, you know, you still drive around in a nice car and you still, like, wear nice clothes and y- you know, you still upload topless photos and stuff."
- LSLeon Scott
Mm-hmm.
- CWChris Williamson
"You're not uploading a pho- a nice photo of a piece of tree bark or something like that."
- LSLeon Scott
Yeah.
- CWChris Williamson
"And I think the point that is... the dual edged sword of this is that you still need to play the game."
- LSLeon Scott
Yeah.
- CWChris Williamson
"We have to play the game."
- LSLeon Scott
Uh-huh.
- CWChris Williamson
"And y- as you've said, these particular rules-"
- LSLeon Scott
It's, it's, it's that play the role that you're given type thing, in that you know, you, you need to... You can't just jump from one thing to another when people aren't ready type of thing.
- CWChris Williamson
Well, the... Yeah. Yeah. I mean, you need to capitalize on the effective strategies within the particular platform that you're trying to do.
- LSLeon Scott
Mm-hmm.
- CWChris Williamson
Like it's, it's all well and good you being a fantastic footballer, but if you turn up to practice-
- LSLeon Scott
(laughs)
- CWChris Williamson
... with a tennis racquet, it doesn't matter. You're not p- you're no longer playing the game.
- LSLeon Scott
Yeah.
- CWChris Williamson
And Instagram has, uh, the social media platform in general, it has a, a set of rules. But I, I think that one thing that is very positive is the fact that you're able to try and put across an image which is still within that, but on the other side a message which is maybe trying to progress people's minds a little bit more.
- LSLeon Scott
Mm-hmm. Yeah.
- CWChris Williamson
You know, in, in 10 years time if you go full Jim Carrey and you've got a beard-
- LSLeon Scott
(laughs)
- CWChris Williamson
... and you've got the string vest on.
- LSLeon Scott
So you know, then you know why.
- CWChris Williamson
Exactly. There you go.
- LSLeon Scott
I- it's been a journey. It hasn't just-
- CWChris Williamson
It's just a fucking long game.
- LSLeon Scott
Yeah, yeah. (laughs) I just needed to bring you with me. (laughs) Yeah, exactly. It hasn't just been like, boom. You know, it, it... It's like a progression thing where you can see maybe, yeah, he's getting, he's getting more crazy and crazier. (laughs)
- CWChris Williamson
Yeah, he's getting more and more-
- LSLeon Scott
Yeah. (laughs)
Episode duration: 55:32
Install uListen for AI-powered chat & search across the full episode — Get Full Transcript
Transcript of episode s6u6494XSNU
