Times Have Changed

Inside the book and game of CareerBall: I have been advising thousands of highly competitive athletes on how to prepare for the proverbial “life after sports”… and help them make the most of their career choices and opportunities. The main core of my advice centers around two central themes:

• First, you must thoroughly understand the vast array of “transferable skills” acquired through athletic experiences and how to leverage them in your job search and career, and, 

• Second, you must thoroughly understand, and commit to a list of fundamental disciplines about self-assessment, going about your job search and career growth in the correct (and intelligent) fashion, and seeking out and learning from others who have successfully traversed the road before you. 

It’s important to realize that we are now living in times where most of the rules have changed… especially when it comes to the timing of making important life decisions and nurturing a meaningful career. In the old days (around ten years ago or so) career planning and career development was rewarded mostly by just showing up to the interview. Today, though, career planning and development requires more preparation and effort, and a little luck. The bottom line is, today, if you want to achieve success in your career, the fundamentals are still the same as they were yesterday but you must begin to think about your career much earlier in life and remember that preparation and effort are key, most important ingredients.