We are often our own worst enemy when it comes to achieving our career and education goals. Because of this, it is important to identify the ways that we are sabotaging our own efforts for success. One of the most common ways people sabotage their long-term potential is by choosing comfort over change and thus, refusing to adapt.
Randy Pausch, author of The Last Lecture writes, “The brick walls are there for a reason. The brick walls are not there to keep us out. The brick walls are there to give us a chance to show how badly we want something because the brick walls are there to stop the people who don’t want it badly enough. They’re there to stop the other people.”
Most goals will require you to overcome obstacles along the path to achievement. Success will require you to meet and overcome new challenges such as trying a new task or putting yourself in unfamiliar environments.
The majority of retired professional athletes continue to work in athletics. This is usually as a coach or trainer of their former sport. Many chose the coaching career path because it is a good fit of their professional skills and passion. However, some chose it because they cannot see beyond the “brick wall” to other industries. It can be uncomfortable to imagine life outside athletics, and yet, a career outside of coaching may be the best fit for their professional skills.
Through this, we learn to ask ourselves if our chosen profession is the best fit or if we chose the easy path of comfort. Take a good look at the brick wall. Are you choosing to stay in athletics or is the brick wall keeping you in athletics? Your AthLife Advisor can walk you through career exploration activities to identify your interests with matching career opportunities to best determine your career and educational goals. Don’t let that brick wall keep you from a fulfilling career.