The Mental Challenges of Transitioning from Professional Athlete to Professional Creative
How Olympic Discipline and Resilience Shape Success in the Professional World
In my 20 years of fencing, hard work and discipline have been ingrained into me. The countless hours of training, preparation, and competing have always followed with results through these characteristics. These are great traits, but there is a side of it that isn't often spoken about when faced with the real world. And that is the part of being your own critic.
As an athlete, we are always hard on ourselves, always demanding more and pushing ourselves to the limit to achieve the goals we set. We push ourselves to levels that would drive most people mad. Especially in an individual sport like fencing, we fight against ourselves more than our opponent. It’s you against you. The inner voice is always there, demanding more. For us, there's only one accomplishment—winning. Anything short of that makes us hungrier to work harder.
These are all things high-level athletes deal with on a day-to-day basis during their careers. Now that I am in a space where I work as a creative at Sony Music, things can be hard to adjust to. But before I get into that, I want to talk about when I got my foot in the door in the workforce. I started as a sales rep for a small marketing firm in the Greater Boston area. I would compete with myself on how many sales I could make, turning it into a competition. I would always say I could make one more sale. In this space, the transfer of skills from being driven as an athlete to a sales rep was seamless. I even got to the point where I was tasked with handling a small team under me, teaching them how I operated. Understanding your opponent in sports translates well into understanding a potential client in sales, and adjusting quickly. I can safely say that athletes make remarkable salespeople.
But things are a little different for me now. I'm in a marketing position where I focus on digital strategy, creative direction, and adapting to new trends. The competition has come back to me in the work I produce. It’s not as simple as making a sale and receiving a medal. Marketing and content creation involve understanding the client or brand's audience. My inner creative mind comes into play, and I can be very hard on myself because of this.
Trust Yourself, Trust the Process
With being hard on ourselves, we can also face imposter syndrome. After being in a space like sports, where we know the ins and outs of our discipline and our body, transitioning to something new can be tough and draining. You constantly question if you are in the right spot or if people around you question your worth. In sports, your performance was clearly shown through your accomplishments—winning or medaling. But in a new field, it's not always that straightforward.
Don’t get discouraged, though. We are more resilient than we often give ourselves credit for. It’s about putting yourself in a position to succeed, just like in sports. We train and prepare to give our best in competition. For me, this meant surrounding myself with people I could learn from. Whether it was doing an apprenticeship with an amazing commercial director to learn production and creative styles, or putting myself in new spaces like shooting musical artists’ shows and other places where I could practice photography. Always be learning to evolve these new skills you want to obtain.
Be Kind to Yourself
Just like in sports, where you rely on your team, it’s important to lean on your coworkers in the professional world. Trust your higher-ups and learn from them. At the end of the day, you are all working together toward a common goal. Remember, it’s not just about pushing yourself to the limit but also about building a network of support that can help you grow and succeed in your new career. Being kind to yourself is crucial—acknowledge your progress, learn from your mistakes, and understand that every step forward, no matter how small, is a victory.
Things to Consider as an Athlete Transitioning into the Workforce:
Transferable Skills: Leverage the discipline, time management, and resilience you've developed in sports. These skills are highly valued in any professional environment and can give you an edge in various roles.
Embrace Learning: Transitioning into a new field often means starting from the ground up. Be open to learning, whether it’s new technical skills, industry-specific knowledge, or understanding workplace dynamics.
Networking Matters: Just like in sports, connections can open doors. Building a professional network is crucial for finding opportunities, mentorship, and career growth.
Emotional Resilience: The mental toughness you’ve built as an athlete can help you handle setbacks and challenges in your new career. However, be mindful of the pressure to always "win" and learn to appreciate the process of growth.
Find Your New "Team": In the workforce, teamwork is just as important as it was in sports. Surround yourself with colleagues and mentors who support your goals and help you develop in your new role.
Set New Goals: Just as you set goals in your athletic career, set clear, achievable goals in your professional life. This helps maintain your drive and provides a sense of purpose.
Balance and Self-Care: Transitioning can be stressful. It's important to maintain a balance between your professional ambitions and personal well-being, just as you did during your athletic career.
All good points. I like the illustration too!