I had the pleasure of participating as a speaker and participant at the StoneFit Professional Women Athletes Career Conference, in S.F. last weekend and was impressed by the young and talented female athletes that attended. The choices of sport careers for young women of today has expanded tremendously. Although most sports outside of tennis, or golf don't provide enough substantial prize money to actually live on the winnings. The quest for sponsorship from companies to keep the professional dream alive is a true challenge for these women. For many others they must keep under the umbrella of an Olympic team to further their athletic adventures.
The goal of the two day conference was to help professional women athletes by including new information on training, conditioning and injury prevention. As part of the weekend, CrossFit trainer, Kelly Starrett and Eva Twardokens gave attendees an opportunity to participate in morning work-outs. It was impressive how quickly, Olympians and athletes who work-out on a regular basis can be exhausted! Applause goes out to Amy Seiwert, the dancer in our group work-out, who danced for the Smuin Ballet for nine years and now is a choreographer....she showed up and pushed, pulled, jumped and ran along with all of us!
I hope my presentation in the career development sector of the conference, "Maximizing the Athletic Transition" connected with some of the audience. Successful or not the paid athletic career is a quick window of opportunity. Many of the sporting dangers of the skiers left me with the impression that their time can be particularly short. Transition out of sport happens for a variety of reasons. Transition motivators include,
Age, De-selection, Injury or Chronic Illness, Goal Fulfillment.
Why do athletes put off exploring the next phase of their professional careers?
Common Myths:
a) Planning for life after sport interferes with focusing on current achievements.
b) Being an athlete, "I don't know how to do anything else." (concept makes some sense since being an athlete you have been competing, training and traveling, vs. looking at other aspects of your career goals.
c) No other profession could ever be as satisifying.
Myth Busters:
a) Research studies suggest that post athletic career planning actually lessens anxiety about the transition process.
b)Athletes develop transferable skill strengths through-out their athletic training and competitive experiences. (Ask me what they are and I will give you a list).
c) Post athletic careers take a different form and can be more broadly life fulfilling. ( I offered plenty of examples during my talk).
Process of Transitioning:
Keep in mind that as an athlete when you retire from competitive sport you still have many productive career years left.
Similar to visualizing your development in sport you begin to visualize your post career professional life. For most people career development is a gradual process. Each experience builds into the next.
Some women athletes that attended the conference, will make it onto the podium and hold up the big prize and hopefully convert the victory into dollars and endorsements. Others will continue to try. Both athletes will bring a tremendous amount of enterprise and energy to the table in their next careers.....thank you for sharing your stories with me.
Thanks to, Dr. Kevin and Susan Stone of the Stone Clinic
Brett Ortiz
Trish Fong and the rest of the Stone Clinic Staff for their time and putting on a fun event.
Congratulations to SheJumps
Thanks,
Bee K.
Career path is not typically a linear process, where are you now in your professional career?
