What do I need to be successful?
Key Learnings
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Prepare for living in a new country by researching language, climate, living accommodations, social norms, etc.
Minimise culture shock by investing time to experience your new cultural surroundings and understand local customs.
Know how to present yourself in any situation in order to make positive impressions that help you stand out and build stronger professional relationships.
To give an effective presentation, there are three elements that you need to keep in mind: have a presentation plan, know your audience, and engage your audience.
Effective visual aids can help the audience remember your messages.
Visuals should be an aid to the presentation – not the focal point.
Improving your professional skills in different areas (attitude, behaviour and presentation) will strengthen your level of professionalism and make more positive impressions.
Professionalism takes effort, commitment, and application.
Left unresolved, personal conflict can seriously affect your performance on the field.
Once you know your own natural response and understand the style of the other person with whom you are in conflict, you can adjust your response in such a way that leads to resolution more quickly and effectively.

Who is a professional?

In most occupations – banking, medicine, teaching, etc. – professional status requires specialised skills and proficiency. Basketball is no different – you have demonstrated expert abilities and you are paid for those skills.

However, having professional status is not the same as being a professional. A professional is someone who:

  • Demonstrates rare abilities and common sense, and then uses these gifts in their professional life.
  • Is considerate towards other people and demonstrates self-control.
  • Takes pride in the work that he or she does and is focused on the task at hand. A real professional is willing to go the extra mile to make sure that everything is done, and the responsibilities of the day are complete.
  • Knows that people deserve respect and that to gain respect, you need to show respect to others.

If you are a professional, you are going to get ahead in your career simply because you know how to treat people. In addition, being a professional can also benefit you in social settings. For instance, the more you demonstrate professionalism off-the-court, the more likely you are to be viewed as a potential leader, which can lead to tremendous opportunities during and following your basketball career.