Do you have a story?

In an interview I did with Kerri Pottharst, Olympic gold medallist in beach volleyball, she mentioned the importance of having a good story. Find your angle to share with journalists to build your newsworthiness and gain free publicity.
Now High Road Entertainment is seeking stories from athletes. Do you have a compelling and inspirational story? Some of my favourite movies are those involving sport and athletes overcoming challenges to make good. I recently watched "Invincible" the story of Vince Papale who got to live his dream when he joined the NFL at age 30. There is something about the athlete who defies the opinions of others, the rejection and the failures to continually strive to be their very best. It is listening to one's own heart that enables these stars to persist through the pain and shine.
It is this very tenacity that can be used to overcome the challenges of sporting retirement and to create success in something new. Has the fight left athletes when it's no longer about sport? When do people stop dreaming about their future? It's never too late to dream and to fight for that dream. Keep striving for success in everything you do.
What's your favourite inspirational sporting movie?

Failing to Plan is Planning to Fail

I just read that Scott Miller, Australian swimmer, was pleading his case in a sentencing hearing for drug-related charges.
Miller admits not knowing what do with his life when his career ended in 2004. Here is yet another tragic example of a gifted athlete, devoting his childhood and teens to a sport, and then having nothing to step into afterwards.
Athletes often think that they will deal with career and 'life after sport' when they stop playing. It's time to wake up and realise that that is too late. There are too many instances where this lack of planning leads to depression, drugs and unfortunately even suicide (Jobie Dakja).
There is a let-down after living in another 'stratosphere' for much of life likened to falling from the Gods. Back in the land of mere mortals and everyday life, there is less to get excited about unless you have a plan, a new passion and are prepared.
There are some systems in place provided by sporting organisations and yet athletes fall through the cracks. While programs can educate and support athletes, it is up to the athletes themselves to step up and receive the support. It is up to them to use the education to make plans and realise that all the warnings about life after sport are true. It can be a struggle so be prepared by doing something before retirement.

Relationships of Sportstars- Real or Surreal?

In the USA there have been a slew of reports on athletes and their adulterous lifestyles. Married NFL player Steve McNair was killed by his girlfriend. In Australia, NRL star Greg Inglis faces charges of assaulting his girlfriend.
These stories, and more, are not uncommon in the non-sporting world, so is it because of their media profile that it seems to be more of a problem within sport?
A recent article reported the divorce rate for NFL stars was 60-80%, much greater than the national average. Why is this?
Life and a relationship while playing sport may be very different when the sporting career is over.
In a piece on Deadspin, it introduces the problem that it's not only the athletes that need to adjust to a new life on retirement from sport. Their spouses are also experiencing change and coping with not only a change of lifestyle but also the change in personality the former athlete may demonstrate. The dynamics of the relationship can change and it may not be one either party had expected or want.
Even during sport their are challenges for relationships due to long absences and temptations. There is a long-accepted creed "What goes on tour, stays on tour" which goes to suggest that extra-marital relationships are condoned, perhaps even by the spouse. Simone, wife of Australian cricketer Shane Warne, regularly forgave him for his indscretions.
These acts may be less excusable when the athlete is retired, but are they still tempted towards old habits? How does a relationship survive sport?
I believe solid relationships are built on shared values, clear communication, mutual respect and a desire to grow together. A greater understanding of values and how they affect both the individual and the relationship can help.
What do you think?

Mixed reaction to Favre Retirement

I am reading, with some amusement, at the various opinions on the decision by NFL player, Brett Favre, to retire again. His actual decision was to 'remain' retired. After going through shoulder surgery there was some encouragement/pressure by his team, Minnesota Vikings, to keep playing to make all that rehabilitation worthwhile. Fortunately Favre didn't agree that was grounds for returning to the game.
According to ESPN's Ed Werner, troublesome ankles and left knee weighed alot in his decision, which wasn't an easy one judging by the number of people he was reported to have consulted.
Some think Favre back-and-forth act is 'selfish' and that he should just 'stay there' (retired). That he had retired a number of times before and had dared to show his emotions to a hungry press, did not work in Favre's favour for some fans. I say "give him a break".
Yes, he is done, as many care to share. The decision to retire is not an easy thing one - regardless of how many awards you have, how many years you have played, injured or not. It can be emotional when something you have devoted your whole life to, including childhood, is now over.
I align with the sentiments of loyal Packer Fan, Dr Jeff Cornwell, who in his blog 'asks' Favre to consider his identity has being more than that of a sports star. This is only what he does. Identity is a core issue for athletes to address in order to move on to greater success in life after sport.
Hopefully Favre will find a new passion and become more than a star athlete. There are many ways he can direct his energy to in a positive way in order to succeed beyond sport.

If at first you don't succeed, find out how

One of the biggest lessons I learnt over the years of striving for my goal was the power of persistence. On my journey towards playing for Australia in the 2000 Olympics, I never would have gotten over the setbacks of injuries and partnership changes without persistence.
It helps to have a clearly defined goal and remaining focused on it. My dream to be an Olympian was like a magnet pulling me through and gave me the courage to keep going for it. Along the way I would often reassess the goals, questioning them and determining if they were really what I wanted. In my heart I believed I was good enough to succeed at the international level and play at the Olympics – even if nobody else did!
Every champion has achieved their personal goal through persistence – persistence in training, persistence through the hard times and even persistence through the good times, striving to be even better.
Michael Jordan needed to call on the power of persistence early in his career. As a sophomore in high school, Jordan was initially cut from his high-school basketball team in Wilmington, N.C. Tis setback compelled him to work even harder. Every great athlete has had their fair share of setbacks and it is how you deal with these setbacks or obstacles that will determine your fate.
There is no such thing as failure, only feedback. One can learn the most from one’s failures – finding out what didn’t work and trying something different will, over time, ultimately lead to success. We do this from the very beginning of our lives learning new skills as a baby. Learning to sit-up, to crawl, to walk, etc. If we gave up on the first attempt at walking, we would all be stuck crawling around. We learn from each attempt, each mistake.
The more you fail the more you will succeed. Where has your failure turned to success?

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Show me the Money

In Jerry Maguire, Cuba Gooding Jr's charachter asks sporting agent Maguire "Show me the money". Well Forbes Magazine has done just that with it's lates Rich list. It has put out a list of the top-paid sports persons in 2009.
It's no surprise to see Tiger Woods at the top of the list. Michael Jordan sits tied at No. 2 with Kobe Bryant, both on $45million, even though MJ retired 6 years ago now and Bryant is still playing.
Jordan is doing well in 'retirement' with the Jordan Brand and is now considering purchasing a basketball team.
Motorcar racing, golf and basketball dominate the list with the two outsiders being David Beckham (soccer) and Manny Pacquiao (boxing). Beckham's precense in the list demonstrates that you don't have to be at the top of the game to earn the top money. Beckham has done well through endorsements and publicity and knows how to keep himself in the media spotlight.
How do you make money from a sporting career? As Beckham shows, it's not about being the best. Jordan is still making money when he has long finished playing basketball.
There are no females in the top 10 but a good friend of mine, Kerri Pottharst, knows something about leveraging one's athlete career. Since winning Gold in the 2000 Olympics in beach volleyball, she is a frequent guest speaker at Australian events, runs corporate events and has numerous media spots. She proves you don't have to come from a high-profile sport. It's how you leverage and promote yourself. Want to find out more? I'm interviewing Kerri in August. Find out more