Going For Gold: A Former Olympian's Guide

Why athletics is good training for the professional business landscape as well

With the Olympic games winding down, I’ve found myself reflecting on my own journey as an Olympian, how I eventually transitioned into the business world, and what the future looks like for so many of the athletes we watched compete in Tokyo this summer. I participated in the 1988 Olympics as a Greco-Roman wrestler for the U.S. team, placing 7th in my weight class, and I was later an alternate for the same sport on the U.S. team for the 1992 Olympics. The transition to a more traditional work-life after that was bumpy, but I believe there are a few key insights that athletes and hiring managers should remember why athletics is actually good training for the professional business landscape as well.

While we’re familiar with the big names in the competition that brings home the gold and whose faces stare back at us from cereal boxes, brand name shoes, and other Olympic-associated apparel, for most athletes who compete, there is usually a point where competing is no longer an option. The post-Olympic comedown is when they have to figure out, what’s next?

My own journey eventually found me working at an Outplacement firm where I provided transition coaching for elite athletes and other former Olympians entering the job market as retired athletes. It’s a strange phase of life to say the least, and for athletes who are used to a regimented lifestyle tied to clear-cut goals for physical training, the transition to office life can be a jarring one. The pace and priorities are different, and since most former athletes lack the traditional job experience needed for success in the business world, they may feel like they are going from being the best to being at the very beginning steps.

As a former athlete turned professional career coach turned Vice President of Business Development for a leading tech company, I know firsthand the experience of pivoting from one phase of life to the next. Luckily,  business and technology companies like Google are quickly evolving, and recognizing the skills former athletes bring to the table. So for other former professional athletes considering the road ahead, and business leaders perusing resumes of former athletes among their candidates here are a few takeaways from my own experience:

Most athletes are used to thinking of themselves in their role in the sport they compete in, but not in terms of how the skill sets they possess can benefit them in other settings. Take stock of what assets helped drive your athletic excellence. Were you a team captain? Did you develop skills as a team member working with others? Perhaps you were a solo athlete like a runner and learned how to work independently?  In addition to taking stock of what skills you currently possess, take time to think about the career goals you’ve set for yourself and whether they’re realistic or aspirational, and the types of tasks you like and dislike. In my own journey, for example, I realized that I enjoyed the challenge that came with picking up the phone and talking to people. Eventually, I felt confident enough with my ability to work with others that I translated those skills into sales, where I’ve been successful.

Surprisingly, what was most impactful for me in my experience as an Olympian wasn’t the Olympic games themselves, but the training process leading up to it. It changed the way I mentally prepared myself and as a result, I became more disciplined in other aspects of my life. I am constantly thinking about the opponent and how to achieve the goals set out for me by my company. Success leads to more than just sales, it also inspires confidence to keep going after the gold, even when the “gold” isn’t necessarily a medal.

In sports, there are a lot of losses that come with competing, and a lot of ups and downs. It’s the same way in sales, management, customer service, and many other careers. Take time to understand how the journey as an athlete makes you different from the other candidates who may be applying to the position you’re after, and ensure you articulate these skills from a place of strength. “Soft” skills like patience, resilience, endurance, and a desire to compete are huge assets in the job market, regardless of whether you learned them in an educational setting or have concrete experience in applying these skills.

Athletes may be used to one end goal, but in the career journey, that’s not always straightforward. By taking time to reflect on your strengths, setting realistic goals for yourself in your career, and gaining insights into how your experience can translate into the business environment, athletes can help ensure they’re continuing to strive for success and channeling their desire to compete into a winning combination for the hiring manager and for themselves.