Try To Be Positive About Everything: Interview with Three-Time Stanley Cup Champion Bryan Bickell

Several years ago, I interviewed former hockey player Bryan Bickell in an interview originally published in Thrive Global. Brian won three Stanley Cups with the Chicago Blackhawks over the course of his ten-year NHL career. Here is an excerpt from our interview:

Adam: Thanks again for taking the time to share your story and your advice. First things first, though, I am sure readers would love to learn more about you. What is something about you that your fans don’t know?

Bryan: I actually enjoy cooking, especially baking. My mom and I used to cook all the time together when I was young.

Adam: What are the best lessons you have learned through your career in sports that are applicable to those of us who will never earn a living playing pro hockey?

Bryan: First, to live and play like it’s your last day on the ice, because you never know when it is going to end. And secondly, for me, routines are so important. I learned that through sports, and have found that in my everyday life too, doing things a certain way at a certain time each day helps the body adapt and lets me be more productive.

Adam: How has your hockey career shaped your current mission? And what are your best tips on being able to stay so positive?

Bryan: To have fun! I always had fun in the locker room and on the road with my teammates, so it never felt like a job to me. I always appreciated how fortunate I was to actually love my job. Now I try and bring that same fun and light-hearted attitude to my family.

Adam: In your experience, other than natural talent, what are the defining qualities of a superstar athlete?

Bryan: Superstars are born with a gift and through daily hard work, they refine their craft. They put in effort day in and day out – striving to always improve. That’s what I’ve really seen set “superstars” apart from other people. Once the effort is there, it just becomes a process of practice and repeat – and adding challenges to tasks that become too easy.

Adam: Who are the greatest leaders you have played with and what do you believe are the defining qualities of a great leader?

Bryan: I have been surrounded by so many different leaders during my hockey career. I consider Jonathan Toews one of the best; I’ll always remember the positive attitude he brought to the team and his motivational talks in the locker room. He truly was a person who led by example.

Adam: What players and coaches have you learned the most from? What did you learn from them?

Bryan: My coach on the Chicago Blackhawks, Joel Quennville, always instilled in us that hard work was key. In terms of players, one of my teammates, Marian Hossa, was someone I greatly admired. Watching him prepare for games and practices, both physically and mentally, made him a standout player for me.

Adam: Who is the best teammate you ever had and why? What are the characteristics of a great teammate?

Bryan: I have had so many amazing teammates, including the guys I just mentioned, Jonathan Toews and Marian Hossa. I am also very close with Corey Crawford, who was always stepping up as our goalie, and Andrew Shaw, who gave his all during every shift. To me, characteristics that make a great teammate are a positive attitude despite the game outcome, and truly caring about his teammates on and off the ice.

Adam: What is the most surprising thing about life in professional sports? What is something that would shock fans?

Bryan: We are very fortunate to do what we do, to get paid to play the game we love. However, at the same time, hockey is very taxing – both mentally and physically – on the body. Life on the road comes with its own set of issues, including adjusting to time changes, changing hotels, and most of all, missing family events/milestones.

Adam: What are your hobbies and what role have they played in defining who you are?

Bryan: A lot of people know that I love fishing, I could easily be out on the boat 5-6 days a week and just spend the day fishing. This hobby is very relaxing for me and has helped me through my relapsing multiple sclerosis (MS) diagnosis. I also partner with Biogen to raise awareness of MS, which keeps me busy and allows me to share and educate more people about the disease on a larger platform. You can learn more about my MS experience at teambickell.com. I hope I can inspire some people and brighten their days with my story.

Adam: Is there anything else would like to share?

Bryan: On a daily basis, I try to be positive about everything. I know I am lucky because I was a small-town kid who got to live out his childhood dream and win multiple championships. And not only that, but I have amazing support from my wife, Amanda, our two daughters, and extended family and friends. I believe I am a lucky man, and I am grateful for all that I have today.


Adam Mendler is an entrepreneur, writer, speaker, educator, and nationally recognized authority on leadership. Adam is the creator and host of the business and leadership podcast Thirty Minute Mentors, where he goes one-on-one with America's most successful people - Fortune 500 CEOs, founders of household name companies, Hall of Fame and Olympic gold medal-winning athletes, political and military leaders - for intimate half-hour conversations each week. A top leadership speaker, Adam draws upon his insights building and leading businesses and interviewing hundreds of America's top leaders as a top keynote speaker to businesses, universities, and non-profit organizations. Adam has written extensively on leadership and related topics, having authored over 70 articles published in major media outlets including Forbes, Inc. and HuffPost, and has conducted more than 500 one on one interviews with America’s top leaders through his collective media projects. Adam teaches graduate-level courses on leadership at UCLA and is an advisor to numerous companies and leaders. A Los Angeles native, Adam is a lifelong Angels fan and an avid backgammon player.

Follow Adam on Instagram and Twitter at @adammendler and on LinkedIn and listen and subscribe to Thirty Minute Mentors on your favorite podcasting app.