You will find these attributes in nearly all chief executives and you’ll also find them in Fremantle player Michael Johnson, who is currently undergoing a pilot program at the Chamber of Commerce and Industry with Apprenticeships Australia. I spoke to Michael to find out about this mentoring program in which he is being trained to train the future generations, plus the similarities he sees between life as an elite sportsman and successful commercial operators.
There are few things in life that incite as much passion in West Australians as their beloved Aussie rules. Football has become infused in Australian culture, with its sporting heroes often surpassing the celebrity status enjoyed by our politicians and dignitaries.
This coveted position does not come easily. With gruelling training sessions often demanded seven days a week plus off-the-field commitments, the rise to AFL status requires strict discipline and precise planning.
Michael Johnson has been on the books at Fremantle since 2005, and despite being just 23 years of age, he has earned a reputation as one of the team's most reliable assets on ground, with a cool head under pressure.
Michael believes that finding a life balance is paramount to achieving success; something he attributes to achieving personally since starting his mentoring program at CCI.
Michael currently works alongside Apprenticeships Australia staff one day a week, learning the ropes for a future role as apprentice supervisor where he will act as a role model and mentor to young people.
"You need a balance in life which I'm finding right now with my football and work with Apprentices Australia. To have that balance is so important - if I didn't have that I don’t know where I'd be," he said.
"I want to be very successful wherever I am and achieve my goals through doing the right thing. If I work hard in life, I'm there."
Michael's Indigenous culture attracted him immediately to the mentoring program offered to the Fremantle team by Apprentices Australia. The tailor-made pilot program paves the way to an ultimate career outside football where he can give back to the community and help Indigenous young people.
"My mother is a Nyungar and she along with my aunts and uncles instilled in me a great depth of understanding for my Indigenous heritage," Michael said.
"We used to travel back to her hometown of Quairading in the wheatbelt to visit the elders, who would teach me about my ancestry and culture. That is what is important in my life - where I come from and what I do with football.
"Eventually I would like to work with the Indigenous kids so I'm beginning the process at Apprenticeships Australia by learning the background operations."
The idea for the pilot program holds its origins with CCI Employment Services executive director Geoff Wrigley, who could see the benefits of such a partnership and took the proposal to Fremantle Football Club Development Manager Lee Walker.
Geoff said Michael’s involvement with CCI sent a great message to young people.
"CCI has the opportunity to show our young workforce that even an elite sportsman who has reached the seemingly impossible by playing at the highest level of his game in Australia, sees the importance of continuing to develop and seek out further opportunities that will assist in future life," he said.
"Michael has been given the opportunity to taste life outside of football to get some relief from the rigours of the AFL regime, which will ultimately help him with football and develop relationship and business skills."
As development manager for Fremantle, whose major role is to assist in all areas of welfare for his players including direction and preparation for a future career, Lee Walker was quick to embrace the program.
"We try to assist our players in any way we can to follow their line of interest outside football and allow for an easier transition into the workplace when their career ends," Lee said.
"Whether they have an interest in business or health and fitness, we help them chip away at gaining another qualification to further themselves."
Michael admitted that a future career outside football was of prime concern to most of the players.
"We always talk about it, as although we’re given all the support possible, it really is up to us to take up the opportunities," he said.
"I've had a couple of friends who have gone through the AFL system and had nothing to show for it at the end. When you think about it, most players are just 17 year old kids when they're drafted so they don't take the usual pathways most young people do in terms of university or TAFE qualifications. It takes a lot of discipline to steer your mind towards outside work when you have time off training.
"We all want to make sure we're set up if there's an injury as your career could end any day with injuries or de-listings."
When Michael first expressed his desire to trial the program to Lee Walker, he was in the midst of pre-season training which required training every day so the decision was made to wait until the start of season.
"Michael has always expressed a huge interest in becoming involved with Indigenous affairs so this pilot program provided the ideal stepping stone for Michael to end up where he wants to be," he said.
"This mentoring role is perfect for Michael as he's approachable, extremely caring right across the board, and also very responsible, which are the major attributes you need in a leadership role."
The young apprentices he meets today on his visits to host companies can’t believe their eyes when an AFL player hands them their uniform and checks on their progress.
Michael chuckled when he admitted that "a few of the apprentices are keen Fremantle supporters so they get pretty excited (and cheeky) when we visit."
"They often ask me why the team has been losing and offer the club a few tips! It's one of the best parts about this role, I really enjoy seeing them with a smile on their face even if it's at my expense."
Michael looks forward to visiting the programs that Apprenticeships Australia is involved with in the North West.
"I think it will be a great experience to see the young Indigenous people who have been so successful in their programs and are working so hard," he said.
"Being Indigenous means that when you do succeed in life, your family all look up to you and become very proud. If you can inspire them to take their own pathway to succeed in life that's terrific, whether it's in football, or achieving good school grades to go on to open up their own business."
Much of Michael's dedication to succeed is fuelled by a passion to make his family proud of him.
"Seeing how proud my family and friends are of me is what drives me every day, and with the passing of my father a couple of years ago who was my number one fan, it has made me even more determined."
Evidently a real team player, Michael said this is where he could see so many similarities between sports and business.
"My team-mates have become like my brothers and coming into CCI has become a little bit like entering the club room. You all pitch in together to achieve the right results; you're working together and travelling together, and of course it's vital to have a few laughs together along the way," he said.
The time at CCI also gives Michael a reprieve from his all-consuming sport.
"Every time you're at the club there's something you need to do in preparation for the next game. We live and breathe our game, and to have one day off and work with the guys here at CCI takes your mind off the game for once and allows you to relax. I think all AFL players should have that."
The Fremantle Football Club is proactive in nurturing their players' well-being, with a wider AFL Association also dedicated to forming career pathways for their footballers.
Lee Walker said he was extremely impressed with the CCI program and wouldn't hesitate to recommend the opportunity to the upcoming draftees.
"This is a terrific program that allows players to really seek and become educated in a working environment outside of the game. And for the younger players, what better way for them to become involved with young people than through involvement with apprentices and trainees?"
This sentiment is clearly endorsed by all who have been involved with Michael at CCI, prompting Geoff Wrigley to confirm the ongoing inclusion of the mentoring program.
"Michael has impressed all his colleagues at CCI and has cleared the way for us to expand the program and offer it up to people in a similar position. That is likely to occur toward the end of next pre-season training," he said.
"We certainly look forward to an ongoing partnership with Fremantle Football Club, and welcome players to become involved with CCI's role model development program in the future."
By Sarah Golden
CCI Senior Journalist