Wayne Lomax is the Retired Pastor of The Fountain Church in Miami Gardens, Florida. He currently serves as a Compliance Manager for Miami Dade County Public Schools and is the President of The Fountain Endowed Legacy Scholarship Fund.
Most communities have some affinity with professional sports. There are kids competing on tennis courts and golf courses, in hockey arenas, and on fields of various types with the dream of becoming a professional. By the time athletes reach the professional ranks, most have invested eight to ten years of preparation.
If one succeeds and makes it to the pinnacle, the professional sports world, everything changes: compensation, business opportunities, relationships, and the resources for long-term security. Since a professional sports career is relatively short, one has an opportunity to pursue other career options.
There is a caveat. Most aspiring athletes will never compete professionally. The spots on teams and in leagues and professional associations are very limited. Many find successful careers as coaches, sports executives, analysts, agents, and in a host of other roles.
As a community, we can learn something from those who aspire to be professional athletes.
- Start early in pursuing professional interests. The sooner, the better. Long-term exposure has long-term value.
- Select rigorous options for optimum development. Exceptionalism is a gift to those who choose rigorous preparation.
- Shift if you do not make it, and leverage the preparation in a different setting.
Sports parents tend to be highly invested in their child’s pursuit of a professional sports career. We can all learn to match that energy with regard to other professional options. Sports parents have modeled the practice of high expectations. They have demonstrated the necessity of going the extra mile to support their child while requiring the child to be accountable and responsible. These practices are transferable to other professions.
The price to pay is less time for frivolity, less personal time for the parent, and less money for nonessentials. The return is more preparation for our kids down the road. Regarding preparation, take A Page from the NBA, NFL, WNBA, MLB, NHL, PGA, WTA, etc.
