The real secret behind winning the Euros (it's not what you think) | Jill Scott | TEDxManchester

Jill Scott begins by reflecting on her childhood as the only girl playing football among boys, facing hostility from parents who would shout threats like 'break that girl's legs' when she was just 8-9 years old. Despite the tears and difficulties, nothing could take football away from her, building resilience from an early age. Throughout her career, Scott avoided long-term planning because as a young girl, her dream of being a professional footballer didn't really exist, so she protected it by focusing on being the best version of herself each day. She learned the importance of finding your own formula for success, contrasting her relaxed approach with teammate Steph Houghton's meticulous preparation - both achieved similar careers but through completely different methods. Scott emphasizes understanding your 'why' in any job, sharing how teammates had different motivations from new kitchens to playing for their children, and how understanding these personal drivers helped the team support each other during crucial moments. She discusses the balance between not getting too high with wins or too low with losses, while still allowing for celebration of special moments. When addressing the Euros victory, Scott credits manager Serena Wiegman's trust in her staff and ability to make every player feel appreciated, describing team selection as transparent face-to-face meetings. Scott concludes with her poetry analogy that while the 'splash' (the gold medal) gets remembered, it's the 'dive' (the journey, friendships, and experiences) that truly matters and creates lasting memories.