GMAN19030 wrote:
DaveRoche wrote:
Which brings up a broader point: there's a certain dismissiveness directed at pros that is unwarranted and unfair. Being a banker or whatever is 10x easier than being a top-level pro triathlete (and that is coming from a lawyer). Easier in what way? Physically easier??? Sure, I'd give you that.
I'd say that being an age group banker or lawyer who works 50+ hours per week
and has a family
and finds time to train 10+ hours per week is more difficult than being a top-level pro triathlete whose only job is to train. Certainly far more difficult from a time management and stress perspective. The typical AG'er with a job and family also doesn't have oodles of time for recovery, which makes the physical component often far more taxing than it would outwardly seem.
If only my job were to train for 20-30 hours per week. I know that's no small task, and I say it in half pink font, and physically demanding on a level I've never seen but it's still just 3-4 hours per day of working out, with 20 hours to rest, recover, sleep, whatever (to include family time for some pros). They're not designing the new space shuttle or physically building a new pyramid at Giza or digging a ditch for Judge Smails. Let's keep it in perspective.
A professional triathlete provides nothing of real value to a society so their efforts need to be kept in perspective. From an entertainment perspective they offer almost nothing as triathlon is not televised, stream lived, or watched. From a brand marketing perspective they are only marketable to the triathlon community and rarely if ever branch out from that. They have minimal travel (go look at cycling, baseball, basketball, etc and their travel schedules). Nobody watches so the performance pressure should be quite low, unless they are a total soup sandwich.
Now on to this utterly insane statement that being a pro triathlete is 10x harder than other professions. The typical physician will have a 4 year undergrad, 4 year med school, 2-3 year residency, and 2-3 year fellowship. Then there is the very long hours, regular upkeep of certifications, research, and continuing education. A "banker" as you state could have a similarly difficult path. Lets say you are an investment banker, many will have at least a masters degree with 10+ years in a highly demanding and stressful field, where a bad day can cost millions of dollars and no second chance. Military is another great example, no such thing as a work week for most, you work all the time. Any kind of special operations will include training which would crush your latte sipping triathlete, they simply would not understand what it is like to not have somebody hold their hand through the tough times. There is no offseason, no recovery days, and a bad day means you don't come home.
How about a police officer? They must have it easy considering all they have to do is go to a 6 month academy? Police officers have an extremely difficult job, they have to make split second decisions on a daily basis that can be life or death. They make a wrong decision they are arrested for abuse/unnecessary violence or they might die. They work very long hours with little compensation. Many firefighters are the same, very low compensation for a high risk job that is essential for any city. We NEED police and firefighters.
How about an engineer? My sister is an electrical engineer and she was a 4.0 GPA at a pre high school where she studied 99% of the time. She then did a double major electrical engineering/Math in college with a 4.0 GPA to ensure she would have good job offers. She worked non stop. She is now an engineer after 5 years of working for a company getting the years done and taking the test. In her job if there is an slip up there are huge consequences and the attention to detail is remarkable. If somebody saw the level of detail these people go into to ensure absolute perfection you would be amazed.
Now how about the nurse, that must be a pretty easy job right? Well you have to do a bachelors of science in nursing which will ensure you have the required medical knowledge. Countless clinical hours. Long days studying for certifications. The actual job is essential for society, the nurse will be the primary contact person in the US healthcare system, they ensure all medications are dosed and given properly. They are the first to respond to any kind of medical emergency and often will be the ones who handle a person who crashes. Again, a bad day or a slip up can have deadly consequences.