How can I manage my career?
Key Learnings
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Setting a clear and precise objective helps you to concentrate your efforts and gets you heading in the right direction.
Divide your goals by time slots: (a) lifetime goals; (b) career goals; (c) season goals.
By making better use of your time, you can achieve your goals much more easily.
Prioritise tasks based on importance and urgency and remove non-essential activities.
Making good choices is crucial for success as much of your earning potential is related to your reputation on and off-the-court.
Only use the advice of others to inform your decision-making process – don’t rely on it as the sole basis for your final decision. You are ultimately responsible for the decisions you make.
Networking is the art of building alliances and can help you get a job, find a sponsor, make new friends, get new ideas, etc.
Preparing for your professional life after basketball is just as important as your current career on-the-court.
During your basketball career, you can invest in your development through part-time education.

Who can I turn to for help when making career decisions?

Knowing where to turn for advice can be just as important as having a plan for making the actual decision. However, only use the advice of others to inform your decision-making process – don’t rely on it as the sole basis for your final decision. The interests of those around you may not always be entirely in your best interest, so keep that in mind and make decisions that serve you best based on your values and priorities. You are ultimately responsible for the decisions you make.

When facing big decisions, consider asking advice from:

  • Players' Mentor. This is a person that has been in your shoes. He probably understands your situation better than anyone else. Furthermore, he/she will just seek your best interest and he/she has been trained to provide this professional advice (see further: Players' Mentor).
     
  • Team leaders. Your coaches and trainers can offer advice when facing tough decisions regarding your on-court performance. However, for career-oriented decisions such as possibly looking for other professional opportunities or other teams, it may not be best to confide in team leaders right away.
     
  • Agents. Part of your agent’s job is to provide you with advice about big decisions that can affect your career. He or she can provide information about the market that is specific to your needs and situation (see further: Agents).
     
  • Financial and legal advisors. If you receive financial and legal advice from someone other than your agent, you may want to consult with them before making any major life decisions. They can provide you with important information about the potential monetary and legal impact of decisions you might make. They can also serve as a useful “second opinion” to what your agent or other primary advisor may suggest (see further: Finance).
     
  • Family. Family know you very well and can offer a lot of helpful insight from a personal perspective. However, they may not always fully understand the professional impact of decisions you need to make. So, always keep in mind a balance between the personal and professional aspects of your decisions. What you choose to prioritise (career, family, health, finances, etc.) will guide you, so remember that throughout your decision-making process (see further: Family).