A Gold Medal Career Opportunity
The following was my very first WordPress article, published on March 3, 2010. At the time, the Vancouver Winter Olympics had just ended. Now with the World Cup and Wimbledon going on, it is highly relevant again. So as you read through, just swap out the references to the Olympics with the World Cup, and references to any Winter Athletes to popular names of Futbal players.
The XXI Winter Olympic Games are over. Records were recorded, medals were won, emotions ran high. Athletes and coaches from around the world gathered to pursue dreams of Gold, Silver, and Bronze. They do this every four years, sometimes every two, sometimes every year in their own respective World Cup series. These athletes are relentless in their dreams; these athletes train everyday because they know that is what it takes to achieve their dreams, and compete for the gold medal prize.
So, when Lindsey Vonn fell twice, eliminating her from two different events; when Apollo Ohno was disqualified, did they resign themselves to end their career? Absolutely not – Vonn has committed to returning in 4 years in Russia, and Ohno will most likely be their as well. Athletes possess a strength and perseverance that get them through their highs and lows; when knocked down, they get right back up and keep going, pushing harder and harder.
As I watched the Games, the competitions, the medal ceremonies, I thought about how the athletic careers of these athletes were similar to my own, non-athletic career. We both have wins; we both have losses; but do we both train and do we both stay strong during rough times?
In the same way that Lindsey Vonn goes after an Olympic Gold, we go after that golden job of our career. Olympic Golds come as the result of training and coaching, every day, pushing harder and harder. Olympic Golds mean that you are performing your best and have surpassed your competition. Getting an offer for that golden job comes as the result of a strong brand and a commitment to yourself. Getting an offer for that golden job also means you have surpassed your competition, YOU are the best candidate.
However, though some athletes do achieve Gold their first time out, not everyone does, and the same goes for job seekers. Throughout our careers we are going after gold, but it takes time to get there. When we get that bronzed job offer or are in that bronzed position, we can’t give up on the golden offer. Whether it is excelling in the bronzed position we already have or it is improving yourself outside of that position in pursuit of another, we need to have a plan on how we are going to achieve gold.
Athletes have an advantage over the non-athletic professionals; athletes have a coach. Their coach guides them with their plan for gold; pushes them to achieve more; provides feedback when their performance didn’t achieve. Makes me somewhat envious! Why shouldn’t professionals also have a coach? Professionals do have a resource, when Internet and book resources just aren’t enough. Career and life coaches are growing in number and might just be the key to achieving that golden opportunity. To find one, use your network; one is probably closer to you than you think. In so many similar ways that an athletic coach aids an athlete, a career and life coach aids a professional.
Amateur athletes are true role models. They are motivated by dreams. The parallels between athletic and professional careers are numerous and should not be dismissed because they appear different on the surface. In a time when so many are seeking a golden job opportunity, it might just help to know that even those we look up to and seem to be in the winning spot, are really no different from the rest of us; they have been knocked down, but they rose back up even stronger. We are all winners, we all have potential, we can achieve gold.