You're never too old to bet on yourself

A story from my youth soccer career to inspire you to dream big

Growing up Soccer Style

When I was 15 I had to make a choice about my soccer future.

I could stay on my current team, remain the captain, but finish middle of the pack OR I could risk it all and tryout for a new super-team that could challenge for the city and provincial championships.

I was always an excellent soccer player growing up. You know that 5 year old who dekes through everyone else and scores at will? That was me, and I loved it.

I began playing rep soccer when I was 7 years old. I was selected from house league to be an all star. Every year after that the competition level went higher and higher.

I had the talent to play on the best team in my city of ~300,000 people. But my parents were weary of too much pressure, too much time commitment, and importantly making sure I enjoyed playing the game first and foremost.

The coach of that team was a tough disciplinarian. He would SCREAM bloody murder at 9 and 10 year old kids. Some of my friends who played for him told me some wild stories. One example, he made them go on long runs in the scorching summer heat and followed behind them in a car with a megaphone yelling the entire time.

While I wanted to test myself, I respected my parents' protection and enjoyed playing on the 2nd and 3rd best teams.

A Soccer Crossroads

But then I saw a chance in the summer of my 15th year to go big.

Lots of players who played under that tough coach decided to quit and form a new team. Their old team had moved into strict provincial competition and the cost, time, and pressure became too much for some parents. For the first time in years, our regional league was open.

I had no guaranteed spot on this new team. If I made it at all, it would be as a reserve, I wasn't good enough to earn a starter role. The team I currently played for was ready to name me captain and have me play every second of every game.

So I had a choice.

Stay with a safe spot but with no chance of winning OR Risk not playing all summer if I didn't make the team in order to go for a championship.

My parents were adamant - "No running back to the other team if you get cut." Big stakes for a 15 year old.

I chose the risky road. I gave everything I had in the tryouts. I was unknown to the new coaching staff and relied on my performance to earn my spot.

Betting on myself paid off I was selected to the team and felt immense pride being on a team that reflected my talent.

Realizing My Potential and Making Good on My Bet

I played striker and one of the first games of the season I proved my worth off the bench. I scored two quick goals and my new coach yelled in triumph at making the right selection for the team.

In his thick Italian accent, with matching hand gestures of course 🤌, I can stIll hear the words bellowing out of his mouth:

"JORDAAANNNNN!!! I KNNNEEEEEWWWW YOU WERE GONNA BE GOOOOOODDD!"

Validation!

Later in the season I scored the most important goal all year for our team.

We were in the regional round robin for the Provincial championship tournament. It was the final game and we needed a win to punch our ticket to the Provincial semi-finals. I subbed in at one point in the 2nd half of a 0-0 game.

I'll remember this play forever

I was playing the left side, I had a strong left foot despite it being my weak side, and my teammate sent a long ball down the wing. I corralled the ball outside the 18 yard box and made a sharp cut towards the net.

I was behind all the D and they could only taunt me as I got closer and close to the goal. This was the time of Disney's 'Remember the Titans' movie and I had my long hair The other team tried to get under my skin by calling me 'Sunshine' after the long haired QB in that one

"Hey Sunshine, don't miss the net!"

"Hey Sunshine, you're gonna CHOKE"

"Hey Sunshine, we're coming right behind you, don't mess it up"

I cut across to the middle to move the keeper off his line and then deftly slipped the ball along the ground back to the near post.

The ball rolled nicely past the goal line and I turned in triumph to all those hecklers.

"You mean MISS LIKE THAT!!!"

Man it felt good. We won the game 1-0 and were now one of the top teams in the entire province. My decision to bet on myself was the right one.

Takeaway for You

What's the moral of the story?

Sometimes it's tempting to stay in a place where you are comfortable and guarnteed special status but overall it's mediocre. What you need to do is take a leap of faith on yourself and strive towards excellence.

The challenge of what you could become isn't something you can ignore. If you fail to take your shot you will resent yourself in the future for not trying.

It's never failing that makes you remorseful, it's quitting on yourself or never beliving in yourself in the first place.

So my challenge to you is to be honest about a place in your life where you know you’re leaving a lot on the table by settling. Instead of accepting that mediocrity because it’s comfortable, try striving towards excellence. Bet on yourself, go for a dream, make sure it’s big, and don’t let the naysayers stop you from aiming at it with all of your heart.

This approach has helped my clients not just break PR’s in exercise and sport, but also earn promotions, start businesses, and create flex work schedules as a few examples. Once you stop limiting yourself in one area, you aren’t satisfied in the other areas you are stretching yourself towards excellence.

If you have trouble aiming at a big goal, beliving you’re capable, or have trouble staying disciplined working towards those aims, send me a message using the button below and let’s talk about how to properly aim and execute together.