I believe there are many things about life as a professional athlete that athletes take for granted. When most people hear this they think it's the money, but I think it's deeper than that. When you work as a professional athlete you get to do life with a team around you. There are people supporting you and going through the same ups and downs that you are. You understand each other and constantly have people around you that motivate you, encourage you, and push you to keep growing and improving.
The importance of a team
I think that everyone should be part of a team at some point of their life. There are so many things that we are able to gain from being a part of athletics and a team. Your team members push you to continue improving at your skills. You are able to learn from each other and help each other improve your skills. Each person on a team has different strengths and you work together to achieve goals that are bigger than what you could do on your own.
Teammates also help pick you up when you are down. They can encourage you to continue on your path and help you improve your skills so you can keep on improving. One thing that people often overlook is the connection that teammates have with each other. They become your social group and you can blow off steam together. You celebrate your successes together and learn from your mistakes together.
Building my new team
Just because I moved on from my career as a professional athlete doesn't mean that I no longer need a team. My team may look a little (or a lot) different than they did in the past, but they are still an important part to the success of my career. Launching a business is hard. It has brought out new skills in me that I was unaware of and has shown me some areas that I can improve. Having a team of people to help me along the way has been very valuable. And, it's nice to have people that believe in me and what I am working to accomplish. We laugh together, we share our struggles together, and we prove ideas and accountability to help each other grow.
Here's what my team looks like now:
While being a professional athlete I learned the importance of surrounding myself with like-minded individuals. That was the first thing I looked for when building my professional team. I found a network for planners called XYPN that are working to serve young adults just like I am.
I worked to surround myself with others that are working in the same industry that I am so I can improve my knowledge and skills. The NAPFA is a group of fee-only advisors that I have been able to tap into.
I've traded in athletic training for business meetings. Each week I meet with my mastermind group that is full of financial planners that are all trying to succeed in their careers. They work as great training partners, just like I had in track. We push each other in business just like my old team and I would push each other at practice.
I have built a team of people that work along with me to help Worth Winning be great. They are similar to the entourage that I had in the past when I was competing. There is a social media expert, website designer, editor, and graphic design assistant. While Worth Winning is my dream they are all supporting and working alongside me to help it be successful. They handle their jobs so I can focus on mine.
Teams are important in athletics and in business. Building a team and business is one day at a time. And, patience really is a virtue.