Since leaving higher education, I've been part of a business community. It is a group of like-minded entrepreneurs who are developing businesses of various kinds and we have regular catch-ups and learn from each other. As part of this, I'm regularly asked, what is it that your service offers? Nike doesn't sell trainers, it sells motivation, McDonald's doesn't sell burgers, it sells happiness, and Amazon doesn't sell products, it sells convenience. So, what are you selling, Chris?
Selling Reassurance
Curtis Joseph, Roberto Baggio, John Arne Riise, Paul Merson, Lee Hendrie, Andriy Shevchenko, David James, Vinnie Jones, Paul Gascoigne, Ravel Morrison, Adrian Mutu, Kieron Dyer, Jon Bostock, Fabio de Silva…
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I'm listening, what do you do?
In as little as 12 weeks, you can begin your journey, independent of the club, on learning the inside game the clubs are playing, develop a career playbook with tangible goals to work towards and plans for dealing with events and have a clear mind on what the future will hold.
Are we doing the right thing?
Instead of thinking "are we making the right decision?", we should be asking "what is the decision we feel most comfortable with right now?" And once that decision has been made, ask "How do we make sure, we make the most of the opportunities that flow from that decision".
Never, ever beat Dan Burn; he's from Blyth ... and Darlington, Fulham, Yeovil, Birmingham, Wigan, Brighton, and Wigan (again)!
We need to develop a 'turn-back time' before reaching a scholarship or a professional contract. Set out, before the ascent begins, what the young player and family are happy to carry on with and what they are not.