SharkFM wrote:
Thomas Gerlach wrote:
synthetic wrote:
such a vague retirement... not clear what he is actually doing next, nor why he gave up when he is at peak level (he won alcatraz!)
I took it that he was being vague specifically because he doesn't know what exactly he wants to do next. I don't think this is all uncommon among high level athletes. High level athletes are so used to pouring their blood sweat and tears into being better and spend so much time doing it that often they can struggle with finding the next thing. I think part of it is because at some point the mind doesn't want to go on, or for some it is the body, and they spend some time making sure things are definite and not just part of recovery from an extra hard year or in this case the end of the Olympic cycle.
I was thinking about this subject on the commute today - that is the "transition". I like to work with athletes, former or otherwise. Especially those who were on teams.
I think that athletes (amateur or former pro) make great additions to business. The qualities of discipline, strength, character, hitting benchmarks, dealing with adversity, mental sharpness ..etc etc. However, there are missing pieces in terms of transition or channeling the +ve's to other work:
1. education/training
2. work environment.
High-level athletes typically gave up school, which is a big issue imo. And I wouldn't slot into roles that require a fixed clock. Any other ideas?
I wonder the same thing. Honestly I think about a lot of athletes, especially ones that have been in the sport for so long and never had a real job.
Being an athlete usually means you have a burning desire to compete which is a worthy quality but the lapse in education and real skills has got to be hard to transition.
I was an automation engineer out of college before transitioning to a sales roles with the same company. I feel like I could never go back to engineering, I feel like going back to sales would be much easier but the reality is that I could probably do both it just feels like I am so far removed from engineering. Sure the skill set is the same but the tools are so different.
It is has something I have considered post triathlon, helping people find jobs. I would honestly like that and I truly understand how hard it is to have your entire life purpose in triathlon and then one day not have it at all. You need to focus that energy in a different direction and find a new purpose.
Being an Olympian is a nice resume build. I am sure Joe will be great!!!
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