By Doug Reed
There is one investment we always encourage the players we mentor to seriously consider. It's not the latest craze everyone is speculating on such as cryptocurrency or NFTs currently. Nor are we talking about a dependable purchase such as buying your own home though that is often a wise move.
The investment that every single player should be considering without question is investing in themselves.
Nowhere near enough think about this seriously enough despite it almost guaranteeing to provide a handsome and lifelong return.
It could be in the form of signing up for an educational course, like we did with the UEFA MIP, or hiring an expert to help you develop a skill. It doesn’t necessarily involve spending money either as it might just require allocating some of your free time.
Examples including taking advantage of the many free learning resources available online or carrying out work experience within an organisation to gain valuable insight.
Though investing in yourself is one of the most reliable investments you can make, it is also one of the most undervalued. Often, we’re happy to spend on a new watch or smartphone but reluctant to invest the same amount on ourselves.
This is a big mistake.
Increasing your skills not only allows you to maximise the rewards from your career through more knowledge and understanding but also the possibilities of securing a fulfilling purpose that you are passionate about once you hang up your boots.
Being able to pursue something you enjoy is one of the best things you can do for your own well-being. Players can struggle to find this from a career after having made their dream of being a professional footballer a reality.
That is why we strongly recommend expanding your abilities, whether through gaining a qualification, working on your communication skills, learning a language, gaining insights into business or whatever it is that interests you.
We are confident you won’t regret it.
Contact us if you would like some guidance about exploring how you can get involved in areas that interest you and how to prepare for your post-playing career.