By Torben Heinbockel ’26
On Thursday during Block F, students and teachers from both the Middle and Upper Schools of St. Paul’s and St. Paul’s School for Girls gathered to listen to John O’Sullivan, founder of the Changing the Game Project. What was his message? That success is not derived from luck or natural talent, but from perseverance, focus, and consistent effort.
John O’Sullivan addresses students at The St. Paul’s Schools.
O’Sullivan, who is a former collegiate and professional soccer player and coach, and internationally-renowned speaker, started Changing the Game Project in 2012 in order to change the culture of youth sports. He has decades of experience at every level of the game, from youth soccer clubs to colleges, and has worked with athletes, coaches, and parents all over the world. His work has been featured on CNN, TEDx Talks, ESPN, NBC Sports, and other large outlets, while his books Changing the Game and Every Moment Counts have become staples in coaching. (changingthegameproject.com)
O’Sullivan shared some powerful insights about discipline, focus, and mindset. “True success comes through hard work when nobody’s watching, and a daily choice to improve instead of settle for comfort,” noted O’Sullivan. The audience watched recorded messages from two interviews he conducted with successful student-athletes who talked about their habits and sacrifices made to play at the highest level, which echoed the general theme of O’Sullivan’s message: staying focused, ignoring distractions, and committing to goals.
O’Sullivan led a morning session for SP and SPSG coaches, presenting on how to foster player-centered environments and build positive leaders. With takeaways that apply across many fields beyond sports, his themes of connection, accountability, and effort had resonance with faculty and students alike.
Later in the afternoon, parents and guardians were invited to a separate workshop in which O’Sullivan expanded on the same theme from a family perspective. He encouraged parents to concentrate on the long-term development of their children rather than the short-term results, thus stressing the need for positivity and balance in the support of student-athletes. The gathering offered families a unique opportunity to hear the same message given to the students. “Success comes from hard work and not luck.”
His final thought for the audience was a lasting reminder that success has little to do with luck, but is built on consistency, resilience, and the ability to show up every single day to do the work. We leave with the question: What will your daily consistency look like tomorrow?
Photo credit: SP Communications Team
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