What do you do if you're an athlete transitioning into a new career after retiring from sports?

Here is a plan: - Assess your interest and skills: identify passions and transferable skills - Research career options: industry research and informational interviews - Seek career counseling or coaching: career counselor and mentorship - Invest in education or certification: courses and degrees and professional development - Build a professional network: reconnect with contacts and join networks - Create a new resume and LinkedIn profile: revise your resume and optimize LinkedIn - Gain experience through volunteering or internships: volunteer opportunities and freelancing - Leverage your sports background: unique perspective and brand association

Try New Things: Embrace exploration and experimentation in your post-sports career journey. Step outside your comfort zone, engage in informational interviews, and volunteer for projects aligned with your interests. Stay open-minded and adaptable as you navigate new opportunities, trusting that each experience brings valuable lessons and growth.

When transitioning from playing to coaching, it is essential to understand the dramatic changes with regards to your responsibility to others. As an athlete, even on a team sport, your responsibility is to do YOUR job on every play/in every game and take care of YOUR body and behaviour off of the field. Ultimately, this is what makes you a good teammate. When transitioning to coaching, you are now responsible for the implementation of systems to help MULTIPLE other people within your position group, side of the ball, or entire team, do all of these things. The shift from only being responsible for your own performance to that of the entire team's brings with it a need for much more maturity, time sacrifice and honesty with ones' self.

Find mentors, and don't be afraid to ask for advice. When athletes leave something they have done their whole life, it's a scary time for them. The money will be different, and they will fall out of the spotlight. That's where a mentor can make all the difference in the world. I have worked with many athletes who just came off the field, and adjusting to the real world is tough. Their support system from the team is now gone, and they need someone to lean on and trust. Find successful people who can advise you honestly to help you transition to the next part of your life.

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I know quite a few athletes who set up themselves for a post-playing career. They stopped to create respectful relationships while playing, reached out to front office personnel, and learned their names and what they did. They asked questions about how business works. They didn't blow off requests to make public appearances; they showed up and introduced themselves to people. They met sponsors, asked questions about their businesses, and exchanged numbers. It's never too early to think about the rest of your life.

The beauty of sports lies in its ability to instill the mentality of starting afresh each day. When transitioning from a sports career to a new profession, it's crucial to embrace this philosophy. While your years as an athlete provide valuable experience, it's essential to approach your new career with the same hunger for growth and learning. Rather than seeing your past as a limitation, leverage it as an advantage in your new professional journey. Mindset plays a pivotal role in this transition, determining your readiness to adapt and excel in a different field.

Start thinking about what you stand for! What are your brand traits? What are you known for? Are you a hard-working over-achiever, an intense grinder who will do anything to win? Are you the All-American boy next door? What do the fans think of you? The most challenging question is who you are. Once you find your four brand traits, you can begin to think about how you present yourself and how people perceive you. If you are a fan favorite and friendly, you might have a future in broadcasting; if you are known for being innovative and you know the game, you could project as a front office executive.