- The Performance Playbook
- Posts
- 4-2-2 Hannah Hampton: The Power of Reset
4-2-2 Hannah Hampton: The Power of Reset
Dropped. Criticised. Forgotten. A year later, she lifted the European Championship. This is how Hannah Hampton turned failure into fuel.
Paul McVeigh
November 13, 2025
In partnership with
Hi,
Every leader faces a moment when the noise gets louder than their purpose.
For Hannah Hampton, that moment came when she was left out of the England squad, a public setback that could’ve shattered her confidence.
Instead, she turned it into a lesson in resilience, reflection, and the power of a mental reset.
Est. Reading Time: 5 minutes
The best marketing ideas come from marketers who live it.
That’s what this newsletter delivers.
The Marketing Millennials is a look inside what’s working right now for other marketers. No theory. No fluff. Just real insights and ideas you can actually use—from marketers who’ve been there, done that, and are sharing the playbook.
Every newsletter is written by Daniel Murray, a marketer obsessed with what goes into great marketing. Expect fresh takes, hot topics, and the kind of stuff you’ll want to steal for your next campaign.
Because marketing shouldn’t feel like guesswork. And you shouldn’t have to dig for the good stuff.
A year ago, Hannah Hampton was on the verge of walking away from football.
Dropped from the England squad. Criticised by the press. Questioned by coaches.
For a goalkeeper once tipped as the Lionesses’ future number one, it felt like the dream had ended.
But instead of quitting, she paused. Reflected. Rebuilt.
And this summer, she returned, stronger, calmer, and ready to lift the European Championship as England’s first-choice keeper.
It wasn’t just a comeback. It was a masterclass in mindset.
1. Resilience Starts With Reflection
When Hampton was dropped, her first instinct wasn’t to prove others wrong; it was to understand herself better.
She looked inward instead of outward. Because growth doesn’t always come from grinding harder, it comes from slowing down long enough to see what needs to change.
In elite sport and leadership alike, reflection isn’t a weakness; it’s awareness. And awareness is the foundation of resilience.
2. Reset Before You Restart
Most people try to bounce back too quickly. They chase the next opportunity, the next win, the next validation.
Hampton did the opposite.
She stepped back. Rebuilt her routines. Reconnected with her purpose.
By the time she returned, she wasn’t just fit, she was focused.
In business, leaders often forget this: resetting isn’t retreating, it’s recovery. You can’t perform at your best if you never pause to recharge.
3. Belief Is a Team Sport
When Hampton rejoined the squad, she credited her teammates and coaches for helping her rediscover belief. Because confidence doesn’t live in isolation, it grows in connection.
The best leaders, like the best teams, create environments where belief is shared, not assumed.
When your people feel supported, they don’t just come back, they come back stronger.
What I’ll Be Tracking After the Euros:
→ How Hampton sustains her new mindset Will she continue to lead through composure and connection, even when pressure rises again?
→ What this says about performance culture The highest performers aren’t defined by their setbacks, but by their capacity to recover from them.
→ What business leaders can learn The power to reset, mentally, emotionally, and strategically, is what separates burnout from breakthrough.
Hannah Hampton’s story isn’t just about football.
It’s about the courage to stop, the humility to reset, and the mindset to rise again.
Because in sport and in business, resilience doesn’t come from never falling, it comes from how you respond when you do.
Best,
Paul
