Think Big: My Ultimate Career Dream

PRELUDE: THINKING BIG

Gary Beckford, my first volleyball coach and current London Legacy Manager for the 2012 Olympics, once told me to “think big”.  He told me to be the first guy to provide national volleyball statistics in England’s top volleyball league, Super 8s.  They currently do not have any national statistics in place.  That thought had not even occurred to me and it was inspirational.  “Think big” Gary would tell me.

THE ULTIMATE CAREER DREAM REVEALED

Unfortunately, my mind doesn’t think big.  However, that talk did make me start thinking about what would be my ultimate career dream.  What would I like to end up doing before I retire?  What body of work would I like to leave behind as my imprint on the world?  It took me two months to figure it out but I think I know where I want to end up.  I will write up some of milestones I would like to achieve before unveiling my ultimate career goal.

1. Complete MSc Performance Analysis course at UWICI would use this time to work hard, maximise my learning and network.

2. First paid workI feel I would have to build up my analysis experience by volunteering my services.  So when I get my first paid work, that’ll be at this point where I feel my career will have taken off.

3. First paid full time regular workThis would be a major milestone to get full time regular work.  This would be the point where I feel I can start thinking about the future, e.g. house, pension etc.

4. Attend a major event, such as the World Cup or the Olympics, in an official capacityI always had an affinity for the elite and being the best.  I long ago abandoned my hope of competing as an athlete on the biggest stage.  However, being there as a performance analyst is something I feel is achievable with hard work.  Helping an athlete or team to achieve their sporting dream is something inspirational.  I know at this point, I have reached a high standard in my analysis work.

5. Become an expert in the field of performance analysisThis would include attending several major events with different sports and nations.  This would be the pinnacle of my performance analysis career.  If I get this far, I will be fully satisfied with the work I have done. 

6. Ultimate career dream: Run a successful sports teams using the principles of performance analysis and the my experience in the fieldThis would be the ultimate career dream.  Performance analysis suits me perfectly because aligns my personality type, previous work experience and interests/ hobbies.  This is where I feel I can excel.  Being part of a winning team is a massive inspiration and motivation.  However, if performance analysis is about improving performance and achieving success thenthat team would be the ultimate dream.  I would have the chance to create a team using pure performance analysis tools and apply other principles, e.g. nutrition, strength and condition, advance coaching techniques etc that will ensure successful performances.  (Compiling the ultimate backroom staff team is another blog post to come). 

I might start off with creating my own volleyball club.  I would recruit the best players possible, recruit the best coaching/ backroom staff and run the club effectively from the outset.  I will adopt a philosophy that will breed success within the club.  (For now, it’ll be along the lines of, “Excellence is only attainable through hard work and not talent alone.”). 

The real test would be running a professional club and winning the respective major prizes, e.g. in English football it would be the Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League titles. 

CONCLUSION

Becoming an expert in the field of performance analysis would be my primary career aim.  I have a plan of action of what I need to do and improve upon.  Couple that with hard work and a little good fortune, I feel I can progress far.  However, changing careers and being responsible for running a professional team and achieving success is me attempting to “think big”.  Just like being the guy to supply national volleyball statistics to the Super 8s, the idea is so big I just don’t know where to start.  Perhaps as I progress in my career and I gain life experience, I will have a paradigm shift and not only will I think this is possible, but it can be a reality.  This is the optimistic thought I am going to stick with right now.