If you just finished college and you played a sport, or if you have recently played your last professional game, this blog is written with you in mind.  America (and the world) as we once knew it has changed forever.  No longer will we be able to: get any type of job with just a four-year degree, borrow money so easily, live outside our means, only work 40 hours a week - invest in our 401(k)'s - retire at sixty something.  Our world has changed forever. 

The reason I am writing this blog is to challenge you to do more with the most valuable thing you have--your TIME.  How much is your TIME worth to you?  This is a question you must be able to answer in 3 seconds or less.  If you do not have an answer to this question, you will be one of those people that will be forever left behind and only be getting out of your life what someone else is willing to give you. 

Many of you are searching for this type of job (if I am wrong, then please excuse me): Report to work at 8:00 AM, take a lunch break at 12:00 PM, and then get off at 5:00 PM.  You may get a $0.25 to $1.00 raise and maybe a yearly bonus.  Does that sound familiar to you?  I used to have this type of job and so do millions of other people. Maybe you even have a job like this now.  Question, don't you feel like one of those mice on a treadmill, going around and around until you are old enough to retire?  At this point, questions should be formulating in your mind.  These questions should go something like this: Is this what my life looks like?; How can I change this?; I wonder how I can get off this treadmill?; How can I find something else to do?; or How can I not become one of those people left behind?

As athletes, you spend your whole life trying to make it to the college level, then maybe make it to the professional level.  You have not put much thought into the day when you cannot play sports any longer.  People, the reason I can write about this subject, is that I was just like you.  Therefore, I know EVERYTHING you have, will and are going through right now.  You have to understand that you are different than a regular student.  They had time to think about one thing--studying.  You have to think about studying and making sure you do not lose your spot on the team you play on.  You do not have the time in the summer to work or do internships. You have to constantly workout and get better at your sport.  You are unique and you have certain things a normal student does not have, but you may not understand these things and how to use them to your benefit. 

Here is a short game plan for you to start working on, so that you will not be left behind in today's economy and hopefully you can find your way in the new world.

First: Start networking--build a network of people that can help you get where you want to go.

Second: Develop a self improvement program--read, read, read - find things that you can learn that will give you an edge on your competition.

Third: Find out what your strengths are--get with a career coach so that he/she can help you understand what it is that you are good at.

Fourth: Start making a game plan--this is a plan for your future.

Fifth: Set some goals--these goals should be reviewed on a daily basis.

For more help, please contact: Corey Crowder - Elite Pro Coaching Group, LLC

ccrowder@eliteprocoaching.com