Identity Reflection
Unleash Superpowers
Your Sweet Spot
Financial Literacy
Execution Time
Athletes live in a different world than much of the population. While so much of it has been great, we often find ourselves living in a bubble. Our daily routines are very structured, often designed by someone else, we’ve been dedicated to our craft, and we are very used to performing at a very high level. For many of us, our identity gets wrapped up in our sport. I am a hockey player. I am a soccer player, etc.
As we transition, we find it challenging to complete this sentence, “I am a …” Here is the good news. In Stage 1 we learn to frame our position in the world differently. Hanging our identity on what we do for a living can have negative consequences and we will learn how to move away from that.
You have greatness inside you that no one else in the world possesses. Your experiences, gifts, relationships, education, and lessons learned through sport combine to create 1 unique individual. You are different than every other human on the planet. In Stage 2 you to identify your strengths and acknowledge your areas of development so you can package and leverage your unique superpowers.
In Stage 2 you will further investigate what makes you tick. You will begin to picture yourself in a new career that you love, where you can leverage your strengths on a daily basis. Do you remember getting report cards in school? Let’s say you had 3 A’s and a C. Many of us felt we needed to turn the C into and A. The same applies to athletes. We often want to work on our weaknesses, instead of spending more effort exploiting our strengths. In Stage 2, Strengths Based Leadership allows us to let go of the stress we carry about our weaknesses. We will exploit our strengths, and turn them into superpowers.
It’s time to Clear the Clutter. We’ve spent time focusing on what we WANT in life. Sorting out what we DON’T WANT can be equally as valuable.
Every athlete leaves sport at a different ‘exit on the freeway.’ Family commitments, time constraints, previous education and work experience are different for every athlete. In Stage 3 we take a closer look at your individual circumstances, opportunities, and barriers.
When many athletes face the reality of finding a new career, they often feel they have fallen behind their old friends from high school or university, who may be a solid decade into their new careers. Athletes have been focused on their sport for so long, that they wonder how they will ever transition into a new career, and ‘catch up’ with everyone else. Here’s the good news. It doesn’t have to be that way.
While building out our content I asked my financial advisor, “what is the number 1 thing I need to cover for these athletes?” His reply? “The danger of credit cards. People need to know how crushing they can be to financial success.” That seemingly oversimplified advice sets the stage here. Spend less than you earn, be careful of whose money you spend, invest early and often for the long term, and seek professional help.
The path that leads to financial freedom does not require a GPS to find it. It requires planning, diversity, and time. Start early, or at the very least, start right now! (I am not a financial professional and give no advice in this module, other than ‘get educated, and get help.’
Deciding the kind of life you want for yourself starts with how you show up as a person. What do you want to be known for? What superpowers do you possess? What capabilities do you need to acquire to help get you there? What SupportingLines do you need to create, and by what date, to help you achieve your goals?
You feel full of new information, have already begun shifting your paradigm from ‘nervous transitioning athlete’ to ‘I’m ready for a new and exciting chapter. You’ve invested a lot of time and energy to get to stage 5 and you are ready to launch.
