Spoiled Rotten?

Many people would argue that the professional athlete of today is spoiled rotten. Think about it...NFL players have managers and trainers squirt water into their mouths during time outs while on the field, NBA players have people constantly picking up their warm-ups and shirts the moment they drop them on the court sideline, NHL players have people who carry and take care of those huge equipment bags, and MLB players expect to have clean clothes every time they show up to the stadium. Many athletes get preferential treatment by local restaurants, organizations, businesses, and sometimes even media. They not only receive free shoes, but are paid well to wear them. (I'll never forget the day I had to purchase a pair of basketball shoes with my own money. After so many years of free stuff it was very sobering).

Often the emphasis and focus of today's professional athlete is the exuberant contracts and salaries, but we overlook the practical and often time emotional side of playing sports for a living. On the long list of things professional athletes miss after the final horn has sounded is the magical disappearance of what I deem the "catering service." Free meals, free equipment, bags carried, clothes washed, first-class travel,...and the list goes on. Sure, a huge cut in pay is high on the "What-I-Miss-Most" list, along with hanging out with teammates, but the practical side of a professional athlete's transition from sports is exactly that..."Practical." 'The little things that have been taken care for me' no longer exist and an athlete is expected to function just like every other Normal Joe and take care of their own business. Something foreign to athletes by the time they depart.

The major sports organizations and player's associations are doing much to address the finances and training needed to assist with this transition back into normal, everyday life, but I don't hear people talking about or addressing the practical side of this transition. At least, if they are it's not well-publicized. So whether professional athletes of today are spoiled rotten depends on who you talk to, but bottom-line is this....coming back into the "real world" could be a rude awakening and athletes should be aware and prepared for this reality.

To find out more about me and my book go to: www.fromglorydays.com

TRANSITION PLAN FOR PROFESSIONAL ATHLETES

What if, just like in the world of sports, we could award our co-workers, colleagues, family, and friends with accolades such as Hall of Fame, All-Star, or a World Champion status? Wouldn't that be something? It would set them apart from the normal, everyday people that circle in and out of our lives on a daily basis. It would provide an identity that typifies excellence and exemplifies success. It would allow a standard of superiority above all others. Wouldn't that be something?

Well, I'm not sure how we would set up the committees to vote for All-Stars or brackets to determine a World Champion, but I'm confident that having such acknowledgments and awards for normal, everyday life might provide a much needed motivation for many former Hall of Fame, All-Star, and World Champion professional athletes who are eventually confronted with the reality of a new phase in their lives....back to the real world, post sports. Unfortunately, there is no proverbial Hall of Fame or World Champion status to pursue in the professional athletes' life thereafter.

So what on earth is a former professional athletes to do?

Well, I believe I have found the answer....but before I press on, let me introduce the credo I adhere to when discussing this topic and professional athletes.....100% of ALL PROFESSIONAL ATHLETES ULTIMATELY EXPERIENCE JOB TERMINATION! There's not too many absolutes in this world, but that is one of them. Having said that, here is what I've discovered.

Through my own experience playing professional basketball, my training and work as a human behavior specialist, and the research and interviews needed to write my book about the SUCCESSFUL transition of twenty former professional athletes, I've discovered a lucrative pattern with the professional athletes who've found success after the final horn's sounded on their athletic career. For simplistical purposes, I've created an acronym to assist in detailing this pattern of success, which I title my R.U.L.E.S. for Success. I use the acronym; R.U.L.E.S. to describe the PLAN and this is a snapshot of it...

R - Refocus
I've discovered that every former professional athlete who's refound success has refocused. And the best way to refocus is to set new goals in order to develop a new sense of purpose.

U - Use Your Network
Professional athletes have a vast Network of connections developed throughout their careers and tapping into this network of people to assist when working toward their goals can be beneficial.

L - Let Go
This one speaks for itself, though it is undoubtedly the most difficult task to accomplish. Letting go of the glory days and overcoming the denial which precedes that event is arguably the highest mountain to climb.

E - Execute
Simply put..."Knowing what to do isn't good enough if you don't have the discipline to do it." (To quote a great coach whose path I once crossed)

S- Someone
The former professional athletes who once-again discovered success found a mentor, someone they could learn and grow from, especially those first years out.

Of course, there is more to each part of the PLAN, but hopefully this gives you a rough idea. R.U.L.E.S. I've found that this PLAN is consistently executed by those former professional athletes who have found success in the next phase of their lives, and many of them didn't even know it.

Even though this PLAN was created to assist former professional athletes' in their bid for new success, it can be applied to many facets of life and those dealing with their own transitions.

My hope is that this PLAN can assist anyone who needs it....

My other hope is to see you next month on this blog....but in the meantime, feel free to visit our website, to find out more about me and the book.
www.fromglorydays.com