Written by: Brian Wood, Executive Contributor
Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
He is an athlete with a history of performing on the court, ice, field, or any other zone of competition. She uses a cause-and-effect model ‒ consistently putting in the work, practicing deliberately, doing the drills, and eating strategically. Combining these behaviors and habits with talent and discipline usually drives spectacular results. The athlete continues to collect wins. The stats don't lie. The scoreboard is accurate. You are crushing it!
"I believe every lie that I've ever told" – Aloe Black
Not only are you crushing it, but the assumption is that you will dominate your sport for the next 25 years. You will never age or slow down. You will live forever!
Wait. What? It's over? How did that happen? You’ve put in a lifetime of work and your time under the bright lights only lasted about ten minutes. No fair!
And then the lying begins:
My identity is connected to my athletic performance.
I'm good, bad, worthy, or insignificant based on the statistics I accumulated while competing.
I'm nothing.
I must start all over and get a "real" job.
I'm the only person who has struggled with transitioning away from the game.
And if we're not careful, negative momentum can build up and even take over. There may be more frequent (and seemingly innocent) thoughts of “Those were the best of times!” But these thoughts could unconsciously translate into “These are the worst of times!”
What do you do now? A few things to consider:
Choose the right room – The right room is one that doesn’t include people trying to hang on to your name and fame with self-serving intentions. People motivated to capture a picture with you to elevate their social media status should not be included in your customized room. Be careful about choosing a room with people who constantly pitch business opportunities too good to be true. Those “golden opportunities” tend to crumble like a cookie. Your room should be exclusive, and your space should be sacred.
Draft the right support team – You don’t have to go through this transition alone. Athletes can typically reflect on their playing days and recall a team of people that helped maximize performance. The same approach when transitioning away from the game is a sound strategy. During your playing days you may have relied on strength coaches, nutritionists, and your position coach. Away from the game a well-crafted support team could include professionals in the space of coaching (success, transition and/or mindset), financial planning and often a therapist. Not only do you need qualified people in these areas, it’s also crucial to draft individuals aligned with your values and compatible with your personality.
Service – A great way to get out of a funk while figuring things out is to take a servant leadership approach. Despite the challenges associated with the transition away from sports there are countless people who are really hurting and would gladly exchange places with you in a heartbeat. Find the people you are called to serve and help them as you see fit. This action can create multiple benefits including the opportunity to clear your head and do some deep thinking. Time can be invested to focus and explore the things that you are most passionate about while examining the ‘why’ behind the passion. This process can also help build your authentic story, which helps formulate your genuine brand.
Self-talk can make all the difference in the world, and it becomes more powerful (to the positive or negative) over time. Think of self-talk as repetitions during your training. The repetitions with correct form and the right resistance will make you better and stronger. But if you just go through the motions during training, the desired results will not be realized.
Tell yourself the right stories. Feed yourself the thoughts that move you toward the next adventure (there’s always room for one more adventure) and next level of greatness.
Brian Wood, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine
Brian Wood combines 30 years of corporate experience with his background as an athlete, certified player agent (NBA, WNBA, and FIBA), and a certified professional success coach to provide clients with a unique perspective and guidance toward the next level of achievement. Wood is passionate about continuous personal and professional growth including organizational development, training, and gamification. He is enthusiastic about helping leaders leverage their gifts to drive impact and success. Wood supports major corporations, professional sports organizations, and municipalities. He provides confidential, professional, and executive coaching, speaking engagements, virtual and in-person facilitation.
