The Grit and Resilience of AFL Legend Steve “Bam Bam” Baker: Lessons from Life and Leadership

In a world where resilience, mindset, and determination shape meaningful success, Steve “Bam Bam” Baker’s journey is a powerful testament to grit, perseverance, and purpose-driven action.

On “What I Wish I Knew at 30,” I sat down with Steve Baker, AFL legend and mental toughness advocate, to explore the lessons he’s learned about facing adversity, building resilience, and leading with discipline. His story offers actionable insights for leaders, high achievers, and anyone striving to live with intention.

A Relentless Spirit

Reflecting on his early career, Steve shares how he built a remarkable AFL journey despite not being the biggest or fastest player on the field. Drafted into the AFL after a standout performance with the Geelong Falcons, he embraced the role of a tagger with full commitment. “A footballer who built his entire career on work ethic, discipline, edge, and pure bloody-minded determination,” Baker recalls.

This approach mirrors leadership development principles, showing that persistence, focus, and mental toughness often outweigh innate talent in achieving personal and professional success.

Lessons from Life at 30

At 30, Baker was at the peak of his AFL career with the St Kilda Saints, optimistic and ambitious. Yet life had an unexpected twist, he was forced into retirement at 31. “At 30, I thought, oh, well, you know, I've got time to work it out. But then sort of it ended abruptly when I was 31,” he reflects.

This pivotal moment taught him adaptability and resilience, reinforcing the importance of being prepared for life’s unexpected changes, key traits in high-performance mindset coaching and executive leadership development.

The Hard Lessons of Adversity

Baker’s story extends beyond football, including personal trials such as the loss of his father. “It puts things in perspective when the same year you lose your old man,” he notes. Then losing his best friend Shane Warne sent Baler back into a downward spiral! These challenges shaped his understanding of resilience and emotional intelligence, showing how adversity can cultivate strength, self-awareness, and purpose-driven action.

Grit, Gratitude, and Teamwork

Steve developed his own framework for navigating life’s challenges, which he calls his “grit strategies”: gratitude, resilience, inspiration, and teamwork. He emphasizes surrounding yourself with positive influences, maintaining routines, and practicing gratitude as ways to foster mental toughness and sustained performance.

“You’re not taking every day for granted, not waiting until you’ve lost something to appreciate it,” Baker advises. These lessons directly align with holistic coaching for leaders, promoting emotional intelligence, sustainable success, and wellbeing in high-pressure environments.

The Bigger Picture

Steve “Bam Bam” Baker’s journey is a reminder that resilience, discipline, and purpose-driven action are essential for both personal and professional growth. By embracing challenges, cultivating grit, and maintaining gratitude, leaders and high achievers can navigate life with clarity, intention, and courage.

Fact:  

Steve Baker's Mum is a legend! 

I conclude, the best chapters of our lives are still ahead.

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For more inspiring stories and actionable insights on leadership development, mindset mastery, and holistic wellbeing, subscribe to “What I Wish I Knew at 30” with Fran Harper.

💡Reflect on your own resilience this week. Take one lesson from Steve’s journey, whether it’s cultivating grit, practicing gratitude, or embracing challenges, and integrate it into your personal or professional life.

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