Sports are a classroom.
But contrary to what you’ve been told, the lessons extend well beyond the field of play.
15+ lessons learned from sports (on career, growth, and life):
But contrary to what you’ve been told, the lessons extend well beyond the field of play.
15+ lessons learned from sports (on career, growth, and life):
I played competitive baseball my entire life.
When my career ended—due to injury (and allowing too many HRs)—I wondered whether all of the hours were a waste.
I soon realized they were anything but.
This thread is my attempt to distill the life lessons I learned from sports:
When my career ended—due to injury (and allowing too many HRs)—I wondered whether all of the hours were a waste.
I soon realized they were anything but.
This thread is my attempt to distill the life lessons I learned from sports:
Servant Leadership
Leadership isn't glamorous.
It's not the movie halftime speech that propels the team to victory. It's not the fancy, well-pressed suit.
Leadership is about service.
The best leaders are in the trenches with their team—never too big to do the small things.
Leadership isn't glamorous.
It's not the movie halftime speech that propels the team to victory. It's not the fancy, well-pressed suit.
Leadership is about service.
The best leaders are in the trenches with their team—never too big to do the small things.
Small Things Become Big Things
Everyone wants the glory—the moments the fans see and remember forever.
The reality? These big moments are the culmination of a million small moments.
The same rule applies to life: Do the small things consistently to achieve the big things.
Everyone wants the glory—the moments the fans see and remember forever.
The reality? These big moments are the culmination of a million small moments.
The same rule applies to life: Do the small things consistently to achieve the big things.
Find Your Flow
In sports, it's called being "in the zone".
Athletes know the feeling well.
Those moments where everything just feels easy—where everything just...flows.
It's hard to describe, and even harder to find, but if you learn to harness it, the world is yours.
In sports, it's called being "in the zone".
Athletes know the feeling well.
Those moments where everything just feels easy—where everything just...flows.
It's hard to describe, and even harder to find, but if you learn to harness it, the world is yours.
Internal Motivation
We are all conditioned to respond to external motivation—rewards, esteem, glory.
Sports teach you to respond to internal motivation.
There's no glory in a cold 6am practice—you need to find something within.
But once you find it, it never goes away.
We are all conditioned to respond to external motivation—rewards, esteem, glory.
Sports teach you to respond to internal motivation.
There's no glory in a cold 6am practice—you need to find something within.
But once you find it, it never goes away.
Winning is Contagious
There's nothing quite like winning.
It's impossible to describe why it happens, but winning spreads. It's contagious. When it hits, everyone can feel it.
When things are tough, sometimes all it takes is just one tiny win to turn it all around.
There's nothing quite like winning.
It's impossible to describe why it happens, but winning spreads. It's contagious. When it hits, everyone can feel it.
When things are tough, sometimes all it takes is just one tiny win to turn it all around.
Be Resilient
Sports and failure go hand in hand.
You learn more about yourself from the moments of terrible failure than you ever will from the moments of glorious success.
So you got knocked down. Now what?
You can stay down, or you can get up, learn from it, and fight.
Sports and failure go hand in hand.
You learn more about yourself from the moments of terrible failure than you ever will from the moments of glorious success.
So you got knocked down. Now what?
You can stay down, or you can get up, learn from it, and fight.
Do Your Job
The mantra of the New England Patriots and legendary head coach Bill Belicheck.
It's simple: You have a job—do it (and do it well).
Every job—no matter how small—is critical to achieving team success.
Remember: One failed O-ring can take down a rocket.
The mantra of the New England Patriots and legendary head coach Bill Belicheck.
It's simple: You have a job—do it (and do it well).
Every job—no matter how small—is critical to achieving team success.
Remember: One failed O-ring can take down a rocket.
Strong Plans, Loosely Held
It's important to always have a plan.
But as Mike Tyson famously said, "Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the mouth."
Plans have to be dynamic (and punch-proof!).
You'll only go as far as your ability to absorb and pivot on the fly.
It's important to always have a plan.
But as Mike Tyson famously said, "Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the mouth."
Plans have to be dynamic (and punch-proof!).
You'll only go as far as your ability to absorb and pivot on the fly.
Maintaining an Even Keel
Sports create insane highs and lows.
True story: I saved the regional championship one week and gave up a season-ending grand slam on ESPN the next week.
Life is no different—it hits you with wild ups and downs.
Never get too high, never get too low.
Sports create insane highs and lows.
True story: I saved the regional championship one week and gave up a season-ending grand slam on ESPN the next week.
Life is no different—it hits you with wild ups and downs.
Never get too high, never get too low.
Perform Under the Lights
In sports, you practice in the dark, but you have to perform in the light.
Life is no different.
When the lights turn on and hit your face, how will you react?
It's not about being "the star”—it's about stepping up when people need you.
In sports, you practice in the dark, but you have to perform in the light.
Life is no different.
When the lights turn on and hit your face, how will you react?
It's not about being "the star”—it's about stepping up when people need you.
The Lion Approach
Sports require a lion-like approach: sprint, rest, sprint, rest, sprint, rest.
When you sprint, you sprint hard. When you rest, you rest hard.
The most successful people apply this same approach to life.
They aren't grazing for hours. They sprint, then rest.
Sports require a lion-like approach: sprint, rest, sprint, rest, sprint, rest.
When you sprint, you sprint hard. When you rest, you rest hard.
The most successful people apply this same approach to life.
They aren't grazing for hours. They sprint, then rest.
Manage Dynamic Personalities
Sports teams are comprised of individuals with different personalities, backgrounds, and motivations.
You somehow learn to work effectively—as a unit—with all of them.
The ability to manage dynamic personalities is a superpower for your career.
Sports teams are comprised of individuals with different personalities, backgrounds, and motivations.
You somehow learn to work effectively—as a unit—with all of them.
The ability to manage dynamic personalities is a superpower for your career.
Patience in Battle
Sports teach you to wait for your opening—to be patient in battle.
Messi is often seen walking on the pitch, waiting for his moment to strike.
Patience in life is just as powerful.
Don't press. Take your time. Wait for the opening. Attack it.
Sports teach you to wait for your opening—to be patient in battle.
Messi is often seen walking on the pitch, waiting for his moment to strike.
Patience in life is just as powerful.
Don't press. Take your time. Wait for the opening. Attack it.
Be Coachable
Athletes learn to be coachable as a survival mechanism—if you aren't coachable, you fail.
You can go a long way in life by simply being coachable.
People seem to have forgotten how to handle critical feedback. Embrace it—listen to it, absorb it, and apply it.
Athletes learn to be coachable as a survival mechanism—if you aren't coachable, you fail.
You can go a long way in life by simply being coachable.
People seem to have forgotten how to handle critical feedback. Embrace it—listen to it, absorb it, and apply it.
Multitasking
Anyone that says multitasking is impossible has never met an NCAA athlete.
Try balancing a 40-hour sports week—sorry NCAA, your hour rules are a joke—and full class schedule while maintaining some semblance of a social life.
You get very good at multitasking.
Anyone that says multitasking is impossible has never met an NCAA athlete.
Try balancing a 40-hour sports week—sorry NCAA, your hour rules are a joke—and full class schedule while maintaining some semblance of a social life.
You get very good at multitasking.
Deep Focus
To excel in sports, you need to find a deeper level of focus to apply to your practice.
Importantly, in a noise-filled world, the ability to focus becomes a unique competitive advantage for your career and life.
Those who can focus, win.
To excel in sports, you need to find a deeper level of focus to apply to your practice.
Importantly, in a noise-filled world, the ability to focus becomes a unique competitive advantage for your career and life.
Those who can focus, win.
Closed Mouths Don't Get Fed
A little push can go a long way. Don't sit back and wait for good things to happen.
If you want an opportunity—and you’ve put in the work for it—go ask for it.
Worst case: you’re told no and nothing has changed.
Best case: it’s yours.
A little push can go a long way. Don't sit back and wait for good things to happen.
If you want an opportunity—and you’ve put in the work for it—go ask for it.
Worst case: you’re told no and nothing has changed.
Best case: it’s yours.
So there you have it—my attempt to distill lessons I learned from sports into a single thread.
I plan to expand on this in a deeper newsletter piece. Subscribe if you’re interested so you don’t miss it. sahilbloom.substack.com
I plan to expand on this in a deeper newsletter piece. Subscribe if you’re interested so you don’t miss it. sahilbloom.substack.com
Follow me @SahilBloom for threads on learning, business, and life.
If you are a job seeker looking to make the next leap in your career, check out my job board, where I curate roles at high-growth companies in finance and tech.
New roles every week! pallet.xyz/list/sahil/jobs
If you are a job seeker looking to make the next leap in your career, check out my job board, where I curate roles at high-growth companies in finance and tech.
New roles every week! pallet.xyz/list/sahil/jobs
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