?? From the Pitcher's Mound to the Tech Arena: My Journey and Lessons Learned ??

I recently had the pleasure of being interviewed, and one question really stood out: "I'm curious about your transition from being a minor-league baseball pitcher to a career in tech. How has your experience in sports influenced your professional journey?" ??

Great question! Transitioning from being a minor-league baseball pitcher to a career in tech has been quite the journey. At that time of my life, I was finishing an advertising agency internship at San Jose State University , paused to chase my childhood dream of having a professional baseball contract and my own baseball card. ????

Sports taught me invaluable lessons about resilience, teamwork, and strategic thinking, which have all been crucial in my professional life. The discipline and dedication required in sports are very similar to what's needed in the tech industry, especially in sales and partnerships. ????

In both fields, it's all about setting goals, adapting to new challenges, working on the fundamentals until you can't get them wrong, and continuously improving. My experience in sports has definitely shaped my approach to leadership and growth. It's been an exciting ride. ????

The interviewer then asked a follow-up question: "What advice would you give to others who are transitioning from a career in sports to a different field?" ??

Thanks for the great question! Transitioning from sports to a different field can be both challenging and rewarding. Here are a few pieces of advice that have helped me along the way:

?? Leverage Your Skills

The skills you've developed in sports—resilience, teamwork, strategic thinking, and discipline—are highly transferable. Make everyone around you better, the team productivity and performance will be better (and your personal stock will rise). Highlight these in your new career. ???

?? Continuous Learning

Just like in sports, you need to keep improving. You need the mindset of "I want it more than they do, every day of the week!" Embrace learning opportunities, whether through formal education, online courses, or on-the-job training. ??

?? Network

Connect with professionals in your desired field, ask how you can help them and you'll be surprised, in turn, and learn from what they say. Networking can open doors and provide valuable insights into your new industry. ??

?? Set Clear Goals

Just like setting goals in sports, define what success looks like in your new career and create a plan to achieve it. I always have personal goals set higher than what the business goals are, that's how you push. No excuses. You can't coach effort, that's on you. ??

??? Stay Patient and Persistent

You'll be faced with a lot of 3-2 counts in life. Transitions take time. Stay patient, disciplined, keep pushing forward, and don't get discouraged by setbacks. Fail fast, learn from it, adapt, and move the ball forward incrementally. ?

Embrace the journey, enjoy the new challenges, celebrate the small wins. There are more of them than big wins, but they do add up. There will be setbacks and delays, and you may feel discouraged...just don't live there long.

Play continues and your team (and company) needs your head in the game. ?????? KKK -

My transition from the pitcher's mound to the tech arena has been an incredible journey, full of growth and new opportunities. I hope my story and advice inspire others who are beginning or struggling with any transition in their professional journey. ??

Feel free to connect with me for more insights and inspiration. Let's continue to grow and succeed together! ??

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