Check out this GPA interview with Denis at

https://www.gaelicplayers.com/TabId/86/ArtMID/421/ArticleID/502/Players-In-Focus---Denis-Corroon-Westmeath-GAA.aspx

 Players In Focus - Denis Corroon, Westmeath GAA

Denis Corroon is man with a serious work ethic and ability, both on and off the football pitch.  Aside from being an integral part of the Westmeath team that reached the Leinster final for the second year in a row this year, Denis is making the hard yards in his career as well. 

Having quickly made waves within ESB growing his role from PMO support to project manager, an achievement he’s very proud of, he recently obtained a new role in PwC as a Consultant in their Advisory Practice. 

These career milestones illustrate huge personal and professional progression in a short space of time, and the Westmeath native believes the GPA’s Player Development Programme was a vital ingredient towards his success to date.

“The GPA Player Development Programme enabled me be more driven individual after I came to a career cross roads (whether or not to continue project management as a profession) in mid-2015. I enrolled in the Personal Development Programme, got assigned an excellent coach who took me through various self-assessment exercises, and I have honestly not looked back since. 

“When I compare myself to this time last year it’s incredible to think how far I have come and cannot wait for what lies ahead.”

As part of his personal development, Corroon is one of our members participating in the GPA Madden Leadership Programme, and he’s relishing the experience.

“It’s an excellent learning environment to equip yourself with the necessary knowledge to push yourself to the next level in your sport or profession.”

Its clear Denis loves what he’s doing and his motivation stems from the various challenges project management presents. 

“My favorite aspect of work would be the exposure to people, processes and technologies within different industries and companies. I can potentially get positioned on any type of project or programme, big or small, and in any industry. I get to put my personal stamp of accountability and governance around its work streams and ensure the project achieves its objectives.”

He’s very aware that responsibility lies at his feet but is not deterred by this.

“As a project manager you ultimately get all the credit or all the blame depending on the outcome of your delivery. I enjoy this high risk, high reward environment. No matter what the outcome of my delivery, successful or not, I can look back with pride at the people I’ve met and the amount I have learned. To me that’s the real reward.”

Denis’ attitude is pretty much summed up by his one of his favourite quotes (which he gives some credit to Gerry Duffy for).

 ‘How you do anything is how you do everything’ – T. Harv Eker

“It’s such a simple, yet powerful statement. The way people do the simplest things on a day-to-day basis, is proportional to how they would tackle their biggest challenges in life. There are clues in every action or decision a person makes.”

What makes a person like Denis tick?  What or who inspires him?  This is something he’s given a lot of thought to.

“Initially, I think of my Dad. Almost everything I have done in life originated from wanting to be like him (sport, music, business), but nowadays I take a more holistic view on this subject, and genuinely get my inspiration from many people in different walks of life. For me, anyone who is trying to be the best version of themselves inspires me.”

When pushed for some examples, the midfielder throws an unlikely but formidable character.

“One guy I’ve followed from a young age (because of WWE) and still do, is Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. A charismatic, entertaining, good looking and ridiculously hard working fellow who most importantly, transformed his dreams into a reality.”

We hear a lot about the challenges facing out inter-county players today, and Denis believes that players need to be able move in and out of the ‘bubble’ of being a county player.

“For me, the biggest challenge facing inter-county players today is the balance between your life as a GAA county player and your ‘actual life’. While GAA is a massive part of my life, it’s not my entire life, which is the way it should be. I recently read some articles on a ‘GAA bubble’ that we inter-county players are seemingly in. It said that when we come out of the bubble we will be lost or at a loose end. I like to think I only live in this ‘bubble’ when I have to, and that I can concentrate on other aspects of my life pretty easily. I feel this is very important for players nowadays.”

In the age of social media where players are public property and judged almost solely on their on-field performance, Corroon would like to remind players, and the general public, that football isn’t the bigger picture.

“People have to remember that a GAA inter-county career only defines a phase of a player’s life, a temporary and short phase in the grand scheme of things. Passionate GAA people (some might say the old GAA stock) who don’t personally know you, struggle with this thought. They think GAA is and should be your life because maybe it was theirs. Personally, I like to keep a close eye on the bigger picture at all times.”

It’s not all bad though and Denis thinks that players can utilise their profile and experience more for off-field opportunities.

“One opportunity players do get is a chance to carve a career out from their profile. Whether players like it or not they are in the public spotlight, and with social media these days it’s easy to capitalize on this type of exposure whether it’s for a job interview, setting up a business, or simply meeting new people. I don’t think players realize this enough. The “Irish” thing to do is to not use it! 

Despite mumblings of discontent in the GAA about championship structures and beyond, Denis is still keen to express his love for the sport, and all that goes with it.

“Fundamentally I would not change much about the GAA. There are plenty of things that could change but at the end of the day it’s a beautiful game that we all love. Structures, governance and how competitions are run are all part of the corporate Game of Thrones. For me it will always be hard to beat the feeling of a winning a game with your club or county on Saturday evening and going for a few pints with the lads you put in the work with after. It’s a release!”

It’s hard to know where Denis will be in 10 year’s time, however, it’s not hard to see that he’s going to be successful whatever route he takes.  In his own mind, he believes there’s a possibility of taking the road less travelled.

“I consider myself quite entrepreneurial so it’s always been my plan to run my own business. I have a lot of learning to do in order to make that to happen, so in the next 10 years I plan to dedicate myself to doing just that, learning as much as possible and being the best version of myself I can be. I’ve no doubt that will take me to where I want to be, and it might help me see a lot more of the world.”

Denis has simple advice for his teammates, or anyone for that matter.

“Get uncomfortable. Get outside your comfort zone or at least of the edge of its threshold. Whether it’s on the training field, in the gym, at work, at the dinner table in your family home – difficult things have to be said and done. Nobody likes to do them, but when things are all said and done you’ll be glad you took action when you did.”

From what we gather, Denis is a man who’s comfortable being uncomfortable.  More power to him.