“I will shortly be closing the book on my sporting career and need help in writing my next book on my career in business.”

A semi-professional striker was retiring.  Due to age and injury, his soccer career was coming to an end.  He was looking for guidance about how to launch a career in business.  In his mind these were two separate and distinct careers.

I asked: “What made you a successful striker?”

He talked about reading the game. Positioning yourself where the opportunity will emerge, not where the ball is now. Taking the shot when the moment comes.  Creating space for teammates even when he will not get the credit.

Then he got to the unrewarded running.

“Most of my runs went nowhere. I’d make the run, the pass wouldn’t come. Or it would go somewhere else. Nobody sees that running. It doesn’t show up in the stats. But I kept doing it. Because when that one moment comes – when the space opens, when the pass arrives – I was there – it was my moment to shine.”

He slumped back in his chair and went quiet.

I said nothing.

Then he sat forward, eyes wide open.

“That’s… that’s what it takes to have success in business, isn’t it? Most of your work goes unrewarded. You show up anyway. You position yourself anyway. So when the opportunity comes, you’re ready.”

He had spent 15 years learning exactly what he needed to apply as he started out in business. He just didn’t know it was the same lesson.

Not two books. One book. New chapter.