Want to know the secret to breaking into sports? It’s really not much of a secret. You’ve heard it before. Many times, I’m sure. But this time I want you to do something about it. Are you with me? Good.
Below are four (not-so-secret) power moves that will help you get to where you want to go with your sports business career.
1. Out-Hustle Your Competitors
Here’s the secret: Out-hustle the competition. Beating your opponents takes an enormous amount of work. Especially in the sports business industry. But it starts in the mind. You don’t out-hustle the competition by accident. It happens on purpose. Until you make a conscious decision to do so, it’s not going to happen.
Application: Add an hour or more per day to your schedule to work on breaking into the biz.
2. Be Relentless
Landing a job in sports is about rolling up your sleeves and getting after it. And not giving up. That’s how you win a job. When you pursue your dreams — and you’re relentless — everything else will take care of itself.
Application: Network like a man or woman on a mission. Because you are.
3. Get Out of Your Comfort Zone
If you’re an athlete, or former athlete, you’ve heard the old saying, ”No Pain, No Gain.” In the off-season that was your mantra while you were preparing for the future. The same approach applies now. Planning and preparing to launch a sports career requires you to get out of your comfort zone and embrace the pain so you can enjoy the gain.
Application: Outline a plan of attack.
4. Have Something to Sell
Before you start working in sports, you first have to work in marketing. Self-marketing, that is. In order to land your first job in sports — and build your sports career from there — you must be able to sell yourself. But you’ve got to have something to sell. Your diploma alone won’t cut it. Grades either. Dig deeper.
Application: Find one or two things you do extremely well. Package it in a way that brings value to a company. Lead with that.
Comment below with other great ideas and tips to getting a job in sports! Make sure to like us on FaceBook and follow us or tweet us @sportsnetworker
@TheRueGuy A good article, but hopelessly optimistic. I’ve been doing that for 4 years, and nothing has happened.
@LiloWilliams took me 15 years.
@LiloWilliams Hey Lilo – I wrote that “optimistic” article. I’d like to help, if possible. In your pursuit, what were you “Selling”?
@TheRueGuy That’s the definition of “Relentless,” which was Point #2.
@ChrisMcKinney It was more accidental than anything!
@ChrisMcKinney Hi Chris–can I send you an e-mail?
@TheRueGuy @ChrisMcKinney I also keep hearing “just have to be in the right place at the right time,” which isn’t very encouraging.
@LiloWilliams sure. [email protected] I’ll be able to reply tomorrow.
@TurnkeySports @JohnMellor my rec: Figure out what you’re great at and market yourself directly to companies who will pay you to do it.
@matthewcerrone @LewisHowes Also get really really lucky on the health front as a child and train like it’s your job.
@matthewcerrone @LewisHowes ah sports business…I say my comment still applies!
@matthewcerrone
@matthewcerrone @LewisHowes Really bad at something? Such as, word choice? “Like” means “similar to,” not “such as.”
@TheRueGuy Luck you!
@ChrisMcKinney @TheRueGuy “Lucky”