I like playing football because of the nature of the game. Firstly, it’s a team sport and the results of a match are the consequence of the effort exerted (as long as the referee doesn’t unfairly influence the outcome).
The other aspects I enjoy are that it is fluid, unpredictable, and requires a balanced strategy.
What do I mean by balance?
In order to win a match, you must use both offensive and defensive tactics. If you focus too much on defending, then you decrease the chances of scoring, which is needed to win. If you focus only on scoring, you leave your team open to a counter attack and you may be beaten by the other side despite having a few goals in your favour. A balance is needed throughout the whole game.
The sport is much like my profession. Risks must be taken in order to achieve success yet you mustn’t leave yourself exposed to failure.
Every second of a soccer match has uncertainty. Such as the pace of play, the opponent’s tactics and the changing formation on the field. Uncertainty is also present in business. This requires the ability to adapt to constant changes in circumstances throughout a project or engagement.
The nature of business engagements are fluid. Attention and work is always needed to keep these engagements successful.
Balance is required and usually, the efforts exerted are recognised and rewarded.
This is how I think football and work are related.
Career update with formula one analogy
That’s it.
I’m going to call it.
For those of you who have seen the film Senna.
I feel the way Ayrton Senna felt while he was driving for Toleman.
He was a winner but didn’t see this happening in his situation at the time.
I’m looking for the Lotus team (so to speak).
Tips for students going to university
There are two types of people that are about to embark on a uni degree.
- Those who are going because their parents want them to go
- Those who are going because they want to go
Well actually, there are probably more groups than that but my drift is, you’re going for yourself or someone’s pressuring you to go.
It’s important that you appreciate your chance at uni. If you embark on a degree that isn’t at the top of your desired list, then there’s a strong chance that you’ll have trouble succeeding
I am speaking from my own experience. There was a lot of pressure for me to get into uni although I also had high hopes to finish a degree. I started off doing a degree (IT) that required no previous experience. I thought it was the degree for me but after two semesters, I realised that I wasn’t IT material – as far as programming goes anyway.
It’s quite normal to make errors in choosing your first degree. Most of us are only 17 years old when we are made to decide. Sometimes it’s what you’ve always liked but realise that it may not be right for you or something else is that bit more interesting.
Tip 1
Don’t decide on a degree because there is a shortage of that profession in the workforce. Shortages don’t last forever, however being stuck in a profession you are not that interested in for the next 45 years might not be too thrilling – that is if you can pass all the units and graduate first.
Tip 2
Don’t listen to people when they tell you “Oh don’t do ‘x’ degree, there is no work in that field anymore”. Or when they say “You must study this degree, it’s the degree of the future, it pays so well”. For every person giving you this style of advice, there are others that can argue the other way. This is your decision so be critical and careful with any advice given to you.
Tip 3
Don’t think you are wasting your time by going to CIT/TAFE/Technical school first to try out the discipline. Sometimes it is easier to start off your field of study in a technical school where the course builds up slowly with perhaps less requirements and then move into the university equivalent after two years. In some cases you can be exempt from the first year of the uni degree. It is much better than going straight to uni from college and being overwhelmed and failing half of your units for the first two years.
Tip 4
While at uni if you feel that this degree is not for you or cannot really see yourself getting through to the end, don’t spend too much time thinking and start viewing possible alternatives as soon as possible. Go and see the course convenors for the other degrees that interest you and talk to them about your position. Don’t be afraid to change degrees, it is common and far better to make that decision while at uni rather than 5 years into a job you cannot stand.
Tip 5
You should really only go to uni for yourself. You need to see and be convinced that it’s worthwhile to be there. If you’re not there for yourself you will start to resent the degree you are studying and the whole process as well. This will delay your graduation time and cause you problems with your grades and might even affect your employ ability once graduated.
Your time at university costs money and of course your ability to work full-time while studying. It can feel like a short time or it could extend to far-longer than you thought acceptable. If things aren’t going well, the best option is to take a semester or even a year off to re-think your goals and life-long expectations. I believe you need to be happy and satisfied not only at the end of your degree, with the cardboard in hand but also during. If you are not enjoying the study process then something is clearly wrong and it might get worse if you don’t re-evaluate your options.
In the end it’s your life. So enjoy what you are studying, make the most of your time at uni and good luck with your career and the rest of your working life.