Human 9: Michael Cheika
Former Wallabies Coach
Michael Cheika is the only rugby coach to have won major competitions in both the Northern and Southern hemisphere. After coaching Leinster to Heineken Cup victory in 2009, he became the Director of Rugby at Stade Français. Michael then returned to Australia to coach the NSW Waratahs, where he won the Super Rugby competition in 2014. Following this success, he coached the Wallabies for around 6 years, and was awarded World Rugby Coach of the Year in 2015 after leading Australia to the World Cup final in England. Michael is currently the head coach of the Lebanese national rugby league team, who will compete in the World Cup later this year.
Cheik is a passionate coach, known for speaking his mind - incidentally, he can do this fluently in English, Arabic, French and Italian.
Michael is a human mammal. Here are his thoughts:
What brings you the most joy in life?
Seeing people (including me) realise an achievement they never really thought possible.
What does success mean to you?
Living life how you aspire to live it, not how you ‘should’ live it.
What are you most grateful for?
My family – all of them – but most of all, my wife and kids.
Who or what has had the biggest influence on your life?
My Dad, for a specific reason, and my Mum for a very different one.
What do you regret?
Any time I have compromised my identity and my values.
What advice would you give your younger self?
None – your past acts are what form the now and part of the future.
What do you doubt most?
The intentions of political parties and people in modern-day democracy.
When did you last change your mind?
When I hear someone give me a better idea or way of doing something than what I already had in my head. I love having to change my mind because it means I’ve evolved my thinking and learnt something new.
What is the role of luck in our lives?
Good players make their own luck.
Do you have a favourite quote? What is it? Why do you like it?
There are many excellent verbal inspirations out there – turning those words into action is another thing. But I suppose, related to my area of expertise: “hard work will always beat talent when talent doesn’t work hard”.
What would you do with your life if you had unlimited financial resources?
I would provide global education to all children in an attempt to try and end classism in society.
If you could have the definitive answer to a single question, what would you ask?
How did this all start?... or, how can my team win every week?!
What concept/fact/idea should every human on the planet understand?
Everyone deserves to have a good life – that means; good health, safe surrounds and access to education.
Should we think of morality in relative or absolute terms?
The world as it is now, relative. In some form of utopia, absolute.
Do human beings have free will?
A few do, many don’t.
Do you believe in God?
I believe in a higher being. If that beings name is God, then yes.
Could we be living in a simulated universe?
Yes, we could.
Will the continual development of technology have a net positive or negative influence on humanity?
In its purely created form, technology can only have a positive influence on humanity. Once altered by humans that won’t always be the case.
What is the single greatest achievement of humanity?
I couldn’t tell you because it’s yet to happen.
What do you see as the biggest existential threat to humanity?
If we are talking about a threat to the continued existence of the human race, then there are too many real threats to list and one is no larger than the other. If we are talking about threats to our cohesion and way of life, then the biggest threat is more and more regulation in society leading to a lack of trust between neighbours – this is sneaking up on us!
What does it mean to live a good life?
Clearly everyone has their own version of this. In its simplest societal form, in a good life you should be healthy, safe, smart, and have unwavering self-esteem underpinning it.
What is a good death?
You can have a good death once you’ve had a good life.
Thanks for your time, Michael!
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