Why Participating in Athletics Has Been My “Secret Weapon” in Creative Entrepreneurship

Since my earliest memories, I've been immersed in the world of athletics. Soccer, softball, volleyball, track, golf, basketball, I tried them all, and some I still play to this day. Sports have always been a huge part of my life and I gained an appreciation for every sport I’ve participated in. For instance, I believe that even at just 4 years old on the soccer field, I learned valuable lessons about loyalty, communication, and discipline. While I understand that sports may not be everyone's cup of tea, for me, they've become my secret weapon in the realm of creative entrepreneurship due to the invaluable lessons they've taught me.

From my first race in 3rd grade, I knew Track and Field was the sport for me. There's something undeniably pure about Track—the outcome hinges solely on your effort and determination. Your performance was based on how hard you worked and how bad you wanted it - and while natural talent always plays a factor, I truly believe in the famous quote by high school basketball coach, Tim Notke, “Hard work beats talent, when talent doesn’t work hard”. If you won the race, you could thank yourself [and the teammates who pushed you at practice that week], but if you lost, that was on you, no excuses. And I have taken that mantra into all aspects of my life. Self-accountability is so important, especially when you decide to leap into entrepreneurship. I've come to understand that success demands nothing less than 110% effort, and while the journey is often arduous, the rewards make it all worthwhile.

For me, running wasn't just about physical exertion; it was a journey of self-discovery and growth. Training days were when you could dial in and focus on pushing your body to its limits, while meet days were an adrenaline rush where you learned how to handle high-pressure, competitive environments. The world of sports is so multi-faceted in the sense that you never have the same experience more than once. As you progress in your sport, and continue to achieve personal bests, battle injuries, or other obstacles, you are constantly learning new lessons and gaining new perspectives. Much like life itself, you grow through these new challenges and appreciate the newfound knowledge you gain in the process. 

As an athlete, it is a true privilege to compete at the collegiate level. And though I recognize and appreciate this time in my journey, I can also say it is without a doubt one of the most difficult and trying times for an athlete to endure, both physically and mentally. From the time commitment to the self-discipline both on and off the track, all the way to the effects that playing a sport can have on your social life. It takes a whole lot of self-will and unwavering motivation to maintain balance. But again, this only helped hone my edge when it came to increasing productivity and building a strong work ethic. Budgeting your limited time to meet deadlines, hitting progress checkpoints, and so on, has become a huge part of my daily work now; and I attribute a great deal of my success to lessons learned while competing in college.

Now as I work towards my yearly goals in my business and face the pressures of adulthood, I revert to lessons learned during my time in athletics. Even coaches' voices saying, “Visualize yourself winning the race” or “This last repetition is making you mentally tough”, still echo in my head today, and are so relevant to my life now.  I owe a debt of gratitude to everyone who played a role in my track career, for they not only shaped my athletic career but also helped mold me into the person I am today. Moving forward, I'll continue to live by their words and cherish the invaluable lessons learned, not only from Track & Field, but from every sport I've embraced.