Daniel Geey’s Post

Gareth is absolutely spot on. Joe is absolutely spot on. This is exactly the type of messaging and advice younger players need to hear and listen too. There is so much life to live post-sport and our second careers will be more than likely be far longer that our first. I always challenge my teammates to look inward early and really start thinking about their futures and the purpose they might long for once they hang up their boots. Spin your plates early. Budget. Plan. The importance can't be overstated. Once you hit 30, I always say every year is a cherished year in professional football. The contracts get shorter and smaller and for many it can be a real slippery slope. The numbers for athlete's retiring, not just in football but across the board makes for terrifying reading. An estimated 40% of footballers go bankrupt within 5 years of their playing days ending. 80% of NFL players and 60% of NBA players face serious financial hardship within 5 years of retirement. It's unfathomable, but as a player, I can totally understand how it happens. Gareth is totally right when he says we need to do so much more as a network of players, ex-players, unions, governing bodies and industry experts to actually shift this long-standing narrative and truly support players in meaningful and impactful ways as they close in on the end of such a fantastic chapter of their lives. Well done Steven Caulker on highlighting a really important coversation.

It was a pleasure to attend the Expedia Group x PowerToFly networking event last night at the group's London HQ and meet the people behind Expedia's recent creative campaigns. One of my key takeaways was the importance of #mentoring and how it can help you take the next step in your career, plus why you should consider translating your skills into other sectors and embrace a #squigglycareer. https://lnkd.in/eHAyGb5g

"Win by *not* focusing on winning" I have, for many years, said to most clients, go into all job applications assuming you won't get the job. Seem odd? I think not. Purely statistically, virtually nobody will get any job. Of course, chances vary depending on any number of factors. But broadly, the chances of not securing the role are extremely high. Why do I say it? Because, as I tell people, I want them to preemptively mitigate their likely despondency. Have you prepared as well as possible? Yes. Ok, do you know what you can do to remove or minimise all the immeasurables (organisation's preconditions, recruiter's preconceptions, other applicants'' skills ....?) Nothing. So I was interested and pleased today to discover this article. Why? Because the chap is a winner at the highest level and his advice reflects what I've said for years. I don't mean I think I'm fab. Rather, perhaps my advice makes sense. It's certainly helped a lot of people, as they've told me. Indeed, it has, perhaps counterintuitively, built their confidence and resolve.

At 27, I sat in an office for the first time. I had just landed a job at AFC Fylde running the media department (shout out to the legend that is Jonty Castle for deeming me the best of what must have been a bad bunch! 🤣) and remember feeling out of place. Prior to that, the changing room and training pitch had been my office. It was where I felt myself and where, since joining Port Vale’s academy at the age of 8, most of my childhood memories were made. As athletes, we learn how to fit into that particular environment - our whole character often built around the boisterous yet cut-throat environs of a dressing room. When we retire and make the move into our next career, transferable skills is a word that’s thrown at us all the time. But what we aren’t taught is just how much knowledge we lack when it comes to a new workplace and how to conduct ourselves. On that first day in the office: 📄 - I had never written a CV or cover letter before 👨🏻💻- I had never owned my own laptop 🤝 - I had never heard of a line manager or a ‘1:1 weekly catch-up’ ✈️ - I had never requested a holiday 🥪 - I had never had a lunch break 📧 - I had never had a work email address 🗣️- I had never had to present my thoughts to a room of people ✔️- I didn’t know what a KPI was I was a blank canvas, starting from scratch. Although former athletes have tonnes of value to add to an employer, it’s so important to understand the amount of knowledge and skill gaps you have. My advice: Drop the ego, be curious and ask questions (even the stupid ones) What other pieces of advice would you give? #transition #athletes #careerchange

Sir Mark Cavendish - a legend achieving his 35th stage win in the Tour de France. 🇮🇲🚴🏼♂️🏆🥇⭐️ He knows he is not the fittest or strongest - but his post win first interview today shone a light on his positive mindset. Carefully crafted with support, commitment and ultimately consistency every day. I will end my day today with thoughts of anything is possible and starting to form clear goals, commitment and vision for all things in my world…… and working out my own consistency needed for this. What’s your dream? Are you consistently showing up for yourself to give yourself the best chance of fulfillment? https://lnkd.in/equwueTy

Last week I created my first hand-made basket ever... ...and the main lesson of the workshop wasn't learning about the craft itself. I joined a course in a small fisherman town in the north of Spain and challenged myself to delve myself into a local setting. I only understood 50% of the Gallegian accent the teacher spoke, however, his enthusiasm and passion transmuted his knowledge and skills clearly enough. He started the class with "I am not an expert nor professional basketmaker, yet I am very very very passionate about this craft". The way he spoke about it made us all excited and ready to dive in. No matter what his official 'title' was, he managed to have an entire class enthusiastic and leave with a hand-made, skillfully made basket. His opening sentence stayed with me. It reminds me of the journey I've gone through. From feeling the pressure to study more, work harder, climb the corporate ladder, in order to be valued and acknowledged for my capabilities, to realizing that my titles such as 'senior consultant', 'MSc' and 'RC', tell only so little of who I am and what I am capable of. So that's why, on my website I mention 'I am not my CV'. Because I am not, yet it does give you some insights of where I am coming from and what my experiences are. However, that only covers part of what I bring to the table. And I wish that to everyone. That we connect to that knowing inside of us, that we are not defined by our job. And that we start our conversations sharing what we're passionate about and believe in, instead of simply stating our job title. Starting this month, this new (work) season with just that. Being ALL of you. What are you most passionate about? Happy September! #passion #purpose #selfleadership

🌟 Embracing Progress: My Experience Last Month 🌟 What a month it's been! A whirlwind of experiences and growth for me. From diving into written interactions to acing task-based submissions, from participating in group discussions to undergoing hour-long personal interviews, each moment has shaped my journey of self-discovery and professional development. 📝💼 A standout highlight? Transitioning from merely attending club events to securing a spot as an inner core member in one of the clubs. It's been a journey from missing out on a few opportunities to actively contributing elsewhere. Directly interacting with senior core and board members has been truly eye-opening. I'm deeply honored to be recognized by them for my passion and dedication. 🔄👥 Of course, failures have been an integral part along the way, teaching invaluable lessons and highlighting the true value of success. Networking with individuals from diverse backgrounds has broadened my perspective and forged invaluable connections. Excited to connect with fellow professionals and explore new opportunities ahead! 🌐🤝 Looking back, I'm grateful for the challenges and triumphs that have shaped my journey. Special thanks to my family and well-wishers for their unwavering support and guidance. The experience has equipped me to handle tough situations and show presence of mind under pressure. Here's to embracing continued growth and success as I move forward! 🚀✨ PS: Stay tuned for updates about the club I got the opportunity to be a part of! 📝💬 #PersonalGrowth #ProfessionalDevelopment #Networking #SuccessMindset #FutureLeaders #TechTales #TechJourney #CareerGrowth #SkillsDevelopment #NewBeginnings #OpportunitiesKnocking #StayHungryStayHumble #ExcitedForWhatsNext #HumbleBeginnings #LearningJourney #ProfessionalJourney #OpportunitiesAwait #StayTuned 🌟🎉

https://lnkd.in/gE6HYnMY The first goal shows the importance of being switched on to the quick throw in opportunity.

I don’t think people understand how competitive it is to get in the sports industry.. Like many of you, I’ve been deep in the job search grind, and honestly, there were moments where I felt a bit discouraged—especially when chasing opportunities in such a competitive field as sports. But here’s the thing I’ve come to realize: our time is coming. The path to landing a role in sports isn’t always a straight shot, and it can be easy to feel defeated when things don’t happen as fast as we’d like. But one thing is certain—if you stay passionate, driven, and continue to put in the work, that sports team or organization will take a chance on you. So, to anyone else feeling down in the trenches: don’t ever give up. Keep pushing, keep learning, and keep believing. The right opportunity is out there, and when it arrives, it’ll be worth every step. Here’s to persistence, resilience, and knowing that we’re all in this together!

The LONG ROAD by Sandro Mancuso Recently watched Sandro Mancuso's insightful video on career choices, "The Long Road." Here are some key takeaways: 1. Sacrifice your time and energy. 2. Acknowledge the world's unfairness. 3. Invest your time wisely in what's important to you. 4. Take ownership of responsibilities instead of transferring them. 5. Successful people have a profession, not just a job. 6. A job is something you need to do, while a profession is a part of your life. 7. To be great at something, you need to love it. 8. Jobs are steps in our career. 9. A successful career combines cumulative and diverse experiences. 10. Sometimes, starting anew in a different direction is necessary. 11. When unsure, wait a bit before deciding. 12. Be cautious not to blindly follow trends; focus on what you truly want. 13. Good careers are intentionally designed. 14. Progress step by step, inspecting and adapting based on your goals. 15. Every conversation, talk, or encounter with new technology is a turning point. 16. Developers often find themselves pushed to do things they may not want to. 17. Distinguish between career progression and career change. 18. Avoid limiting yourself; don't define yourself solely by your current technology or role. 19. There are two types of specialization: Generalization and Specialization, each with its merits. 20. Ask yourself, "Who am I as a professional?" 21. Companies may reward skills learned for the company, but focus on developing transferable skills. 22. Treat your career as your own company; invest in it and expect returns. 23. Know when it's time to leave a company if your path diverges from your career goals. 24. Instead of criticizing, strive to change your company for the better. 25. In the developer world, you can choose your path. 26. To find your dream job: a) Know what you want. b) Apply directly, avoiding recruiters. c) Understand the difference between "A job" and "The job." 27. Great teams want great people, and companies that care about their development teams have good processes. 28. Stay at the top of your game to join a good team. 29. Don't expect companies to provide time for learning; take ownership of your career development. 30. You can't always change your environment, but you can choose who you surround yourself with. 31. Prioritize learning, and you'll never have a problem with money in our industry. 32. Expose yourself to new experiences and ideas. 33. Balance breadth and depth in your skills; being a master of none can be risky. 34. Own your career; don't let a company dictate your learning path. #CareerDevelopment #ProfessionalGrowth #SandroMancuso #CareerAdvice