What Happens When You Bet on Yourself with Ted Lasso’s Brendan Hunt

**Simon Sinek** (0:00)
You're looking at real opportunity, go and do this thing in Amsterdam that's real work versus stay here for your imagination. And people choose imagination.

**Brendan Hunt** (0:07)
Yeah.

**Simon Sinek** (0:08)
I am confused by that.

**Brendan Hunt** (0:10)
To offer that view some grace a little bit, because what is imagination but a plan, you know, a plan and a vision. I think inarguably did not have enough of a plan. I can see the value of having a plan, but I guess it's like, don't be so locked into your plan that you don't recognize an opportunity.

**Simon Sinek** (0:29)
It's kind of like strong opinions loosely held, right? Yeah. Like have a plan, but be open to going off the plan.

**Brendan Hunt** (0:34)
That's the way.

**Simon Sinek** (0:35)
Yeah. When we're young, we make a decision about what we want to be when we grow up. And we make a plan to make that happen. The things we study, the opportunities we pursue, all go according to that plan. But what happens if the plan is the obstacle to achieving our dreams? Worse, what if we can't see that the plan is the obstacle? Sometimes, taking the risk to go wildly off the plan is the best thing we could do for ourselves. Which is exactly why I wanted to talk to Brendan Hunt. Most of us know Brendan as Coach Beard from the show Ted Lasso, which is back for its fourth season on Apple TV.
Brendan also has a solo show called The Movement You Need, which may hit Broadway in 2027
But none of that would have happened if Brendan had stuck to his original plan.
Brendan is living proof that trusting our gut over the plan may be the single best thing we can do for ourselves and our careers. Brendan took the crazy risk to leave America to take a job in Amsterdam, of all places. A decision that nobody thought was a smart career move. And yet it was there that he gained a love for soccer and met Jason Sudeikis. It was his choice to go off the plan that led Brendan to becoming one of the Emmy Award-winning writers, producers, and co-creators of Ted Lasso. The lesson is profound. Sometimes doing things we want to do, the things that others think are unwise, will be the best decisions we make for our lives. If you like this episode, please remember to subscribe. This is a bit of optimism.
This episode is proudly brought to you by SAP. Is curiosity natural or can it be taught? It turns out anyone can learn to be curious. And it's the curious ones that get more out of life, advance quicker in their careers, and just generally grow as human beings. The more we learn to be curious, it's surprising how many doors open for us. Brendan, it's so good to have you here.

**Brendan Hunt** (2:45)
It's great to be here, so good to meet you.

**Simon Sinek** (2:46)
I don't think people recognize or know how wonderfully insane and mad and creative you are.
I know some of it. Because I came to see your show in Amsterdam, your one-man show in Amsterdam, which is basically your life story, which is pretty nuts.

**Brendan Hunt** (3:06)
Until that time, at least. You saw my solo show Five Years in Amsterdam, which I wrote starting in 2004 after having lived five years in Amsterdam, and you saw it in 22, 23?

**Simon Sinek** (3:18)
Something like that.

**Brendan Hunt** (3:19)
I believe that was my official Viking funeral, last performance I was doing of that show. The theater I used to work for out there, Boom Chicago, they had requested it. It's my life story up until leaving Amsterdam. I'm going to talk about a show none of you have seen, but what we're going to do.
I like the show very much, but it's also clearly the show of a younger man. But it was fun to do, it was fun to give it a good send off, and I'm just glad you saw.

**Simon Sinek** (3:44)
So let's back up a little bit, which is, you know, one of the things I'm fascinated about people with careers is how many people are living their childhood dreams and how many of us just sort of like the twists and turns of where we find ourselves, and how people learn what to say yes to and what to say no to. I think your career is a twisty-turny one. So where did you grow up? Chicago. And how does a kid who grew up in Chicago end up for how many years in Amsterdam?

**Brendan Hunt** (4:11)