Small Steps Lead to Big Dreams

Throughout my professional career, I’ve been extremely fortunate to have the opportunity to achieve success both on the professional soccer field and in the business world.

But no accomplishment is more personally rewarding than seeing your children achieve their own dreams. Especially when you know they put in the hard work to get there. I got to experience a big one last week when my son Mitch was drafted by the Philadelphia Union in the Major League Soccer 2016 SuperDraft’s 3rd Round as the 44th overall pick. Of course, I’m a very proud dad.

But there’s also a lesson to be learned from Mitch’s experience: true success is a constant journey with many milestones along the way. A lot of hard work along with many highs and some lows led up to that draft day. From youth soccer to club soccer, through high school and college, Mitch always set incremental goals along the way. He worked tirelessly to accomplish those goals, which led to bigger and bigger and then audacious goals. When they told him he was too short, not good enough and didn’t have what it takes, each time he got up, dusted himself off and went out and worked harder. When he succeeded, he then set an even higher bar and looked for new ways to get better. It’s this constant cycle of perseverance, continuous improvement and even stubbornness that led to his big moment last week. And I’m sure it will continue as he embarks on his new career.

Like Mitch, I also got better by setting and achieving incremental goals on the soccer field -- at Seattle Pacific University, and again playing for professional teams in Cleveland, Atlanta, Milwaukee and Portland. I’ve also applied these same lessons throughout my business career, trying to work my way up the ranks at AT&T.

Look back - so has Mitch.

He was a 4-year letter winner at his Atlanta high school, and captain of the state championship team in 2011. He played for the United States Under-18 team in 2011 and four U.S. Premier Development League seasons. He was the co-captain of the Ocean City Nor’easters PDL team in New Jersey this last summer and played for Rutgers University this past year and was the team’s co-captain. Mitch received numerous recognitions including All-Midwest Region, All-America and All-Big Ten Conference honors-- all culminating with his invite to the MLS Combine last month.

And now, he has a shot to reach the highest level of soccer in the United States.

Both Mitch’s story – though there’s still much to be told – and my experience show the importance of setting and going out and achieving incremental milestones, always looking for ways to learn and get better and better - then setting the bar higher every step of the way. You can never be satisfied. And, yes, you need real passion for what you do to make this work. It’s something we can all do, whatever our calling, profession or level in our organization.

Small steps with specific goals reap big rewards.

I couldn’t be more proud of my son. Not for the level he has reached on the soccer field, but for the hard work, perseverance, leadership and person he has become. I know that Mitch will continue to set and achieve incremental goals, continue to set higher bars and become the best player – and leader – he can be. And when his playing career ends, he’ll bring those same skills to whatever he chooses to pursue next.