Transitioning from being an athlete to working in corporate to venturing into entrepreneurship involves releasing control over the process.
All dominant athletes seem to have their shit together from a young age. We find the sport we are naturally good at and then dedicate our time, energy, and effort to it. Remember knowing where you were going to college while your classmates were worried about getting accepted. Athletes experience success at a very young age.
We knew the path we were going on from childhood… Then we graduate or retire. And while some of us knew where we were going next, most of us, like me, didn’t have a clue.
If you’re like me, you fell into a career that was similar to our parents and continued to do what we knew would make them proud. To be fair, that’s all we had seen. Parents grinding to make sure we could play our sport and they could pay the bills. They seemed happy enough right. For awhile we felt happy that we transitioned into the work force.
Not us adulting, paying bills, and being grown!!!
Then enters social media (and not the posting pictures of our food with a terrible filter era) the look at my life doing this cool thing that you had no idea was an option era. And for the first time for many of us, we started to consider the life we actually wanted to live and realized the one we are living, wasn’t it!
Confession: I’ve been laid off of every job I’ve had. Laid off meaning hey-girl-it’s-been-fun-but-we-are-eliminating-your-position. “It’s not you it’s us.” type of vibe. I’ve never been hurt by it as the severance pay was always an added bonus. Eventually though,I took a step back and said, “wait a damn minute, this route is not as secure and stable as they say it is and I don’t even enjoy it. WTF am I doing with my life?”
Enter the age of entrepreneurship and how much of a struggle it is as an athlete (I may not play anymore but my athlete mindset will never change)
When I was laid off in 2022 I decided I wasn’t going back to corporate American and I quickly learned how hard it is to create a schedule for myself since literally everyone has always made one for me.
I learned that I show up stronger when I know a team is relying on me.
I realized I much I relied on the “how” and clear path of my desires working out.
I have been trying my hardest to enjoy the journey when I desperately desire the victory, because as an athlete the journeys I remember and enjoyed the most ended in a championship victory. Our destinations amounted to a lot
I’ve combatted some of these crippling belief systems by counter thinking them as follows:
People I’m meant to serve or help are relying on my follow through. How dare I let them down.
The “how” isn’t yours to figure out. Doing the work you’re called to do will set the how in motion and it will come to you with ease.
The victory will come when you dive deep into your story. Even when you were playing you had to take one play, one game, one day at a time. Do the same now.
Let me know if this spoke to you. Am I alone in feeling this way or are you on a similar journey seeking a fulfilling life unsure of how you will get there but certain of your gifts? Chime in, comment, let’s chat!
Morgan Bullock
Mental Wellness Coach for Female Athletes
Founder + CEO Sportswomen
Comentários