time to review

Realizing if a decision was good or not, always happens in retrospect. Today marks one year since I made one of the right ones. I started my job as a legal assistant. In the world of work, one year is not a long time. But in the world of a 20-year-old, it is.

This blogpost is not dedicated to talking about how quick time passes. Instead, I would like to take a brief look back. Back to a year that has shaped and fulfilled me professionally.

As an athlete, I am strong in focusing on what lies ahead of me. Time to reflect is often missing, just as it is in regards of my everyday life or when it comes to my professional goals that are not sport related.

To mark above mentioned occasion, I am dedicating the next few lines to my main professional learnings of the past few months. There are four sayings that I often rely on and therefore use as a guide for this blog post.

1. surrounding matters.
You are the average of the five people you spend most time with. Jim Rohn

Your close surrounding determines your mood, your commitment and ultimately your performance. It is easier to work when being surrounded by motivated colleagues. Be around people who strive to go the extra mile, cannot stand shortcuts and whose glasses are usually half full, not empty.

2. circle small.
If you are the smartest in the room, you are in the wrong room. Jack Welch

In sport, you get taught early on to always aim for the stronger athletes. Anyone can compare himself with weaker opponents. It is easy, will give you a good feeling and might even boost your confidence. But as said, it is easy and everyone can do it. Avoid it.
The mentality of striving for more and being better than average also pays off in every day life. Benefit from those, who know more than you, can do more than you and who have been in the game for longer. These are the ones to look up to. Seek their feedback as it is the key to your success. Accept it, whether positive or negative, without taking it personally and learn to deal with it.

3. be demure.
When you are young, work to learn, not to earn. Robert T. Kiyosaki

At almost 21 years old, I should be at the bottom of the hierarchy. I support the idea that the younger generation should be listened to and allowed to contribute ideas at an early stage. Nevertheless, I am convinced that at my age, holding back at the beginning is always the better option. Experience is still missing in many areas in our age. Besides, responsibility and trust to face challenging tasks should be earned. Better to be underestimated than overestimated.

4. never done.
if you chase being done you’re chasing something inexistent. (in-house ;)

There are hectic days and there always will be. The end of one hectic period is often followed by the beginning of the next. Those who strive for quiet weeks usually get disappointed. However, pending tasks do not always have to be completed. I learned to prioritize, especially through my part-time job, and to be able to go home even when there is still work to be done.

Looking back, a memorable year has come to an end. Memorable, because I can now see a path for my “post-sports career” ahead of me. I am now in an industry that is characterized by reliability, willingness to learn and perseverance - just my cup of tea.

Regardless of what the future holds for me, I am grateful to have chosen this path. And also for the experiences, encounters and challenges that I get to face every day.