Recapping Our Top Five “Athletes And Business” Articles

At NexGoal, we specialize in matching organizations with top-tier talent with a focus on former athletes and those with the athlete’s mindset. While our history working with and being founded by former athletes may make us biased, we’ve found time and time again that ex-athletes and those with the athletic mindset tend to exceed in the business world thanks to their highly-sought after skills.

But you don’t have to be an athlete to have these crucial skills, and those who have never played a sport can still learn valuable career lessons from their favorite teams and athletes. Over the years, we’ve looked at what makes former athletes so successful in business and found insightful takeaways from the biggest sporting events in the world. For your enjoyment, we’ve compiled five of our favorite articles comparing the sports world and the business world.

Why Should You Hire Former Athletes?

While our history working with and being founded by former athletes may make us biased, the experts agree that you can’t go wrong filling your company with ex-athletes. Studies show that former athletes may make 5-15% more than their peers. Meanwhile, Japanese companies are heavily turning to retired athletes in order to achieve competent workers. Many hiring managers and CEOs like ASM Sports Groups’ Christopher Vidal have found former athletes to be some of their best candidates.

The traits that allow athletes to succeed at their chosen sport translate seamlessly to the business world. Even those who didn’t play organized sports can still embody the traits of a successful athlete—this is what we refer to as the “athlete mindset.” If you’re seeking to fill your organization with quality talent, you can’t go wrong with hiring someone with the athlete mindset thanks to these virtues.

Learn From The NFL Draft And Recruit Like The Pros

This is an exciting week in the world of sports as the 2022 NFL Draft begins. For those who don’t follow the sport, during the National Football League’s annual draft, the 32 teams recruit former college football players through an arranged system over the course of seven rounds.

The draft is the best way for teams to bring in new talent, and the process of talent evaluation is extensive. Each pick is a risk, as you’ll never have a complete picture of a prospect’s ceilings, and the fit with the right team can change everything.

In that way, business recruiting is similar. Recruiters must hire who they believe the best candidate is based on the information they have, and they can’t ignore their gut feelings. If your organization wants to recruit like the pros, you need to approach the process like the pros. Embrace these NFL Draft principles for your next hiring cycle.

Career Lessons From The 2022 World Cup

The World Cup is the largest global event in the sporting world, and every four years, millions watch to see how their country fares against the best competition on the planet. Argentina, led by the legendary Lionel Messi, took the FIFA World Cup Trophy home this year.

Argentina showed how to excel on the world’s biggest stage, but you don’t need to be a pro athlete to find some valuable takeaways for your own career. If you’re looking to achieve new career goals, take these lessons from the pros and become a champion in your chosen field!

Career Lessons From The 2023 Masters Tournament

The beginning of spring not only means warm weather is finally arriving but also one of the most exciting events in professional sports—the Masters Tournament.

One of the four major events in professional golf, the Masters is an iconic tournament where legends are made at the iconic Augusta National Golf Club. Each individual storyline at the Masters is fascinating in its own way, and we can take many lessons from the pros for our own life. If you’re looking to advance your career, take these cues from golf’s most iconic event!

Career Lessons From The 2023 Stanley Cup Finals

With the Vegas Golden Knights defeating the Florida Panthers in the Stanley Cup Finals, the 2023 NHL season has reached its end. As exhilarating as watching hockey can be, if we take a closer look, we can find some valuable lessons for our own lives.

“Playoffs are like a quarter-long sales battle, minus the injuries.” -Kevin Dahl, NexGoal CEO and former NHL player

Two teams of committed team members working toward an ultimate goal is always something we can learn from, even if we aren’t athletes ourselves. Here are valuable career lessons those of us not on the ice can learn from hockey’s ultimate games.

Wrap up

We hope these articles can highlight why we believe so strongly in former athletes and those that embody the athlete’s mindset. You don’t need to be a pro athlete to learn valuable business insights from the sporting world’s biggest stars, and we hope these pieces can assist in your own career. Expect to see even more parallels between athletics and business in the future, and please don’t hesitate to share your own experiences or observations with us!

Before You Go
View Current Job Openings
Subscribe To Our Newsletter
Follow NexGoal on Twitter
“Like” NexGoal on Facebook
Connect with NexGoal on LinkedIn

Read More

Career Lessons From The 2023 Stanley Cup

With the Vegas Golden Knights defeating the Florida Panthers in the Stanley Cup Finals, the 2023 NHL season has reached its end. As exhilarating as watching hockey can be, if we take a closer look, we can find some valuable lessons for our own lives.

“Playoffs are like a quarter-long sales battle, minus the injuries.” -Kevin Dahl, NexGoal CEO and former NHL player

Two teams of committed team members working toward an ultimate goal is always something we can learn from, even if we aren’t athletes ourselves. Here are valuable career lessons those of us not on the ice can learn from hockey’s ultimate games.

Play like the Cup is in the house

The physical Stanley Cup isn’t present at every game of the Finals. The iconic trophy is only “in the house” when a team has a chance to win (by winning three other games). Having the trophy in the house is a powerful reminder of what teams have been fighting for all season and can make the favored team play harder, but it isn’t a necessity.

Successful teams never forget what they are working toward, which is something we can all appreciate. Learn how to visualize success for your team and remember your ultimate goals. By turning your goals from something abstract to something tangible and achievable, you’ll fight harder to make them a reality.

Don’t be afraid to swing big

It’s good to find a realistic and sustainable way to win, but sometimes the process needs a kick in the rear, and all organizations must take a big swing. The Athletic’s Sean McIndoe highlights the Panthers’ blockbuster trade for Calgary’s Matthew Tkachuk as a big key to their success this season. Florida was aggressive in pursuing this trade, barreling through with a massive offer that many thought might be an overpay. But the results spoke for themselves.

While moves like this can put pressure on you, when you’re shooting for success, you must take risks. Whether that means trying to break into a new industry, embracing a new sales strategy, applying for a leadership role, or hiring a promising candidate that doesn’t quite check all of the boxes, we have the potential to make career-altering decisions more often than we think.

“Carolina heavily invested in analytics and thinking about the game in a non-traditional manner for about a decade running now. You are seeing the fruits of those labors.” –John Fischer on 2023 playoff lessons

It takes hard work all year

You don’t get to be one of the final teams in a sport by coincidence or by just doing pretty well late in the season. Even when games aren’t currently being played, owners and general managers are making moves, coaches are watching film and coming up with new strategies, and players are training to be the best versions of themselves.

Vegas missed the playoffs last season but refused to admit defeat. They responded by looking for every big name player that could help their team get back to the postseason. They succeeded, landing a good amount of players, even if they had to make some challenging decisions to deal with the cap space.

Meanwhile, in your career, you need to take a big-picture approach. What will it take for you to achieve your ultimate goals, and how can you work on them today?

“The ups and downs of a post-season resemble business, what these guys endure will prepare them for anything.” -Kevin Dahl

Never count yourself out

Sometimes in a best-of-seven series, finals come down to the final game, with each team having a hot streak. Sometimes, a team takes the lead early and never looks back. In either case, the losing team doesn’t just roll over and lose. They’ll fight until the final buzzer.

The Panthers found themselves in this situation down 1-3 heading into Game 5, a potential end to the series. But as the great Vince Lombardi once said, “Winning is not everything – but making the effort to win is.” The Panthers fought hard to keep their season alive, and even though they fell short of the Cup, they fought admirably to the end. This type of resilience is the key to success in any area.

We view hockey players as tough and gritty, and many will play through battered bodies to achieve their goals. We don’t need to go that far, and we never want to sacrifice physical or mental well-being for the sake of work, but it’s vital to learn how to become resilient at work. Not only is resilience one of the most sought-after skills by employers but it will help us cope with the struggles we’ll face on the way to achieve our goals. Keep trying, and don’t be afraid to change your approach.

Wrap up

Hockey players have a reputation as some of the grittiest, toughest players out there, but that’s not all the sport represents. Team building and training are year-long, thoughtful processes, and even those of us in positions with seemingly little in common with professional hockey can learn from their approach. Keep these career lessons in mind and you’ll be a champion off of the ice!

Before You Go
View Current Job Openings
Subscribe To Our Newsletter
Follow NexGoal on Twitter
“Like” NexGoal on Facebook
Connect with NexGoal on LinkedIn

Read More

Career Lessons From The 2023 Masters Tournament

The beginning of spring not only means warm weather is finally arriving but also one of the most exciting events in professional sports—the Masters Tournament.

One of the four major events in professional golf, the Masters is an iconic tournament where legends are made at the iconic Augusta National Golf Club. Each individual storyline at the Masters is fascinating in its own way, and we can take many lessons from the pros for our own life. If you’re looking to advance your career, take these cues from golf’s most iconic event!

Consistency is key

Masters’ Sunday gets most of the hype since it’s the culmination of the event, but all four days matter. A consistent approach all four days is key to winning the tournament, and we need to be consistent in our own lives.

Victor Hovland made the news on Masters’ Thursday thanks to his dominant start and eye-popping shirt, but Hovland wasn’t able to keep the lead. Each day, he played a little worse, ultimately finishing at -6 and tied for seventh overall.

While it’s important to start strong, you need to put in the same work day after day in your career. Find out what works and doesn’t work early on and find a sustainable method to success. With practice and effort, you’ll outlast the competition.

Never count yourself out

At some point in your career, you’ll apply for a job with strict requirements, accept a challenging project, or add a new skill set to your repertoire. This may be intimidating, and you might think you can’t handle it. But give yourself a shot, and you may be surprised by the results.

Sam Bennett, a college amateur, shocked the patrons at Augusta. It’s hard enough to earn the right to play at the Masters, but it’s even more impressive to make the tournament as an amateur and keep climbing up the leaderboard. Bennett finished tied for sixth on Day 1 of the tournament, tying with 2022 winner Scottie Scheffler. Bennett went on to finish tied for 16th through the weekend, a phenomenal finish for an amateur. Bennett had an incredible first showing and shows that even a newcomer can keep up with legends.

We all have to start somewhere. It’s easy to get discouraged by new challenges in our careers. But never count yourself out. You too could end up impressing your bosses early on.

Perseverance pays off

Even if you’re a career veteran, you may face setbacks in your career. We all face different challenges and have different strengths and weaknesses. Stay resilient and believe in your capabilities even when things look grim.

“Look, I’ve been around the game long enough to know what to do in these situations. So it’s just kind of take the rough with the smooth and just go out there and do as best you can when you are out there.” -Shane Lowry

Jon Rahm, a favorite to win the tournament, had a disastrous first hole on Thursday. Rahm had a six on the first Par 4, including four put attempts. Yet Rahm stayed true to himself and recovered, finishing tied for second on the second day. Rahm had a short memory after that first step back and gained ground and never looked back. Rahm continued to persevere, and on Sunday, he emerged as the tournament champion, winning his first Masters.

Like Rahm, we can’t get hung up on small failures. The best athletes have a short memory after a setback. Learn from them and attack the next obstacle with tenacity, and you too can take strides in your career.

Be prepared for anything

Augusta National is a beautiful course. The broadcast will show the beautiful flora and the start of spring offers new beginnings.

But the weather wasn’t kind through the weekend. Both Friday and Saturday were delayed due to inclement weather. On Friday, trees fell due to the strong winds.

Yet the tournament had to go on, and those running that tournament were prepared. They made the correct design to postpone the rounds and organized new start times and pairings each day. This made for a long Saturday and Sunday, but the tournament finished strong.

Things will inevitably go wrong in your career, whether it’s not getting a job you want, a project failing, or some other setback. Be prepared for anything by doing your research, creating contingency plans, and learning how to pivot. By being prepared, you can weather any storm, literal or metaphorical.

​​”If there’s a word any golfer has to be, it’s adaptable.” –Jon Rahm

Wrap up

This year’s tournament was an exciting one as we saw old winners succeed, new players starting a strong career, a first-time champion earning the coveted green jacket, and the tournament runners keeping things moving in the face of bad weather. Our own careers might be vastly different, but we can learn valuable lessons from our favorite players. Embrace these winning mindsets and attack any obstacle in your way like a pro!

Before You Go
View Current Job Openings
Subscribe To Our Newsletter
Follow NexGoal on Twitter
“Like” NexGoal on Facebook
Connect with NexGoal on LinkedIn

Read More

Recapping Our Top Five Articles From 2022

In 2022, we started to regain some normalcy after two years heavily influenced by the pandemic. We hope that 2022 was a productive and fruitful year for you and that you continue to find success moving forward. We wish to take the time to thank our readers, the candidates, and the clients we work with daily for your support and for working with us in 2022.

In this time of reflection leading up to 2023, we took some time to review your favorite articles from 2022. Whether you’re starting a job search, looking for a little more value in your career, seeking industry knowledge, or navigating the tricky waters of a career change, these five articles particularly resonated with our audience and have something for everyone!

‘Let Go’ of Your Fear of Being Fired

Within the uncertainty of COVID-19 and detachment felt by many remote working employees, fighting through the fear of being fired is a common anxiety making work much more difficult for employees. Operating under this fear can be detrimental to daily job performance and mental health. It does not discriminate against rank, location, or industry. Similar to stress (and often inducing stress), fear drives us to a poor work-life balance and career burnout.

The first step towards seeing change is acknowledging your thoughts and accepting that they are not your reality. Initially revealed by Susie Moore, we break down five specific reasons you can and should push back against the fear of losing your job. 

Watch Out For These Red Flags On Your Next Job Search

In wake of the Great Resignation, many organizations are rapidly trying to attract talent. It’s a good time to be a job seeker, as experts believe 2022 is a year favoring employees. But while many companies are hiring and job seekers have a plethora of options, not all of those options are good. Navigating the job market can be like walking through a minefield as you try to avoid questionable organizations.

Thankfully, a well-prepared job seeker can avoid these “mines” by recognizing the red flags these organizations put out. Whether in the job description itself or based on statements you hear in an interview, there are telltale signs you’re heading for an unpleasant role. We’ll cover six of these major red flags to avoid during your next job search.

Thought-Provoking Questions To Ask Your Interviewer

Employers take tremendous value in the questions you ask during an interview because they will reveal your level of preparation, engagement, and curiosity for the position. Quit focusing on yourself and how your personal needs will be addressed in the role. Instead, ask stimulating questions to produce a quality conversation that reveals you are invested in the team’s betterment and showcases your unique value.

Captivate your interviewer and position yourself as the ideal candidate by asking these five questions:

Understanding And Overcoming Ghosting In Your Job Search

The dating world is scary enough as is, and that’s before considering the potential ‘ghosting’ that can occur. Ghosting, a phenomenon where a prospective partner ceases all communication, is common in dating. Another, more promising option will come along, some circumstances will take up a person’s time, or the person may simply resolve it’s better to disappear than have a difficult conversation.

While frustrating enough in the dating world, thanks to the sheer amount of potential applicants and the ease of using technology over face-to-face communication, ghosting has become extremely common in the hiring stratosphere as well. You may have a phone screening or even an interview and never hear from the company again. Recruiters may find a promising candidate, help them along their hiring process, and then get left on read.

We’ll examine the data behind ghosting, look at why ghosting happens, and provide job seekers will some ghostbusting strategies.

Assessing The Mortgage Industry: Top Trends & Statistics

Is the U.S. housing market overheating? Within the stability of low mortgage rates and high buyer contention, the housing market continues to be highly competitive. While it is a great time to be in the market for a loan, borrowers don’t quite have their ‘pick of the litter’ like in times past. Home prices continue to rise, as does the volume of offers placed on each listing. 

“Demand is robust throughout the country, but homebuyers continue to be held back by the lack of homes for sale and rapidly increasing home prices.” – Joel Kan, MBA Economist.

After assessing various expert opinions, knowledge, and studies, we have constructed the ultimate guide to the latest Mortgage industry trends and statistics entering 2022. Courtesy of the industry professionals with The Mortgage Banker’s Association, Fannie Mae, Forbes, Wall Street Journal, Bankrate, The Motley Fool, TIME Magazine, & more!

Wrap up

As always, we’d like to thank all of you for your support in 2022! If you’ve missed out on any of these career tips, we hope you take the time to review them today!

Don’t hesitate to let us know what kind of articles were your favorite and what you would like to see from our content team in 2023!

Before You Go
View Current Job Openings
Subscribe To Our Newsletter
Follow NexGoal on Twitter
“Like” NexGoal on Facebook
Connect with NexGoal on LinkedIn

Read More

Career Lessons From The 2022 World Cup

The World Cup is the largest global event in the sporting world, and every four years, millions watch to see how their country fares against the best competition on the planet. Argentina, led by the legendary Lionel Messi, took the FIFA World Cup Trophy home this year.

Argentina showed how to excel on the world’s biggest stage, but you don’t need to be a pro athlete to find some valuable takeaways for your own career. If you’re looking to achieve new career goals, take these lessons from the pros and become a champion in your chosen field!

Lead by example

Whether you’re a star player, team captain, manager, or leading a project, leadership is important. And the best leaders are those that lift up their team and lead by example.

LinkedIn’s Aaron Toumazou shared 10 career lessons learned from superstar Lionel Messi. Messi’s leadership works because he himself follows every lesson he instills in his team. Messi sets a high standard and constantly works to improve himself while always holding himself accountable. He also constantly exudes confidence to create a culture of it.

By showing his team he’s willing to put in the work and create a culture of winning, he fosters a sense of community and positivity in the locker room. His teammates know they can rely on him. We may not play the same game, but we can all learn from Messi’s leadership.

Teamwork is key

In any sport, even if you have a superstar, you can’t achieve success alone. Even solo sport athletes need coaches and other allies. To be the best, you need to learn how to put your ego aside and be a team player.

Team foundit reminds us that every member of a team has a different skill set, and those skills must work in harmony for the success of the team. Messi might be one of the greatest athletes in sports, but he can’t do everything alone. In business, we all have strengths and weaknesses, and a good team player will know how to work with others for the success of the project.

“When working on a team project, involve each member as much as possible, and get their help when needed.” –Team foundit

Refine your strategy

In a game of Xs and Os, your strategy and scheme must evolve to stay on top of the game and to compete at a high level. Even if you aren’t in direct competition, it always pays to take time to evaluate your process and see what you can do better.

Online Manipal’s Editorial Team shows that Spain has been disappointing in recent seasons thanks to their reliance on a short pass technique. This was a big reason the team had an early exit in 2022. By refusing to adapt as needed, a team is doomed to poor results.

Make growth a priority by constantly reviewing your performance with regular feedback. assessments, and performance reviews. Even teams that are consistently winning know to keep evolving.

Don’t throw in the towel early

There’s a reason sports games are played out and don’t end early for “mercy” rules. Recently in the NFL, the Minnesota Vikings were down 33-0 at halftime to the Indianapolis Colts. But the team rallied and came back with a thrilling 39-36 victory in overtime, the largest comeback in NFL history. Just because you don’t find early results doesn’t mean they won’t come, and perseverance is one of the most crucial keys to success.

Career coach Mei Phing stressed that the most important part of starting a new career is in the first 90 days when you can learn about company culture and practices. You might fail in those early days, but it’s a valuable time for growth, and you’ll be impressed with how far you can go if you keep working.

Make the most out of bad calls

In sports, there can only be one winning team. Even most hopefuls usually go home in defeat. Sometimes that defeat is due to outside sources you could never have prepared for or predicted. But there are lessons to be learned in defeat, and we can use those lessons to come back stronger.

Liquid Planner mentions lousy calls by the refs and unfortunate injuries as things that happen to every team. Even the most well-prepared teams can’t prevent those. In our own lives, we’ll always face setbacks and failure. But the best teams are those that can grow and adapt, and you can emulate this in your own work. Try to find a silver lining or a lesson and incorporate it moving forward.

“Flexibility in the face of change and resilience in the face of confusion are non-negotiable. Push through the discomfort and prepare yourself for anything.” –Liquid Planner

Wrap up

The World Cup is one of the most widely-celebrated events in sports and brings so many people together. But beyond the obvious entertainment, we can learn valuable lessons from the best of the best that we can incorporate into our own life. Our jobs might be wildly different from our favorite players, but their mindsets are worth emulating in any career!

Before You Go
View Current Job Openings
Subscribe To Our Newsletter
Follow NexGoal on Twitter
“Like” NexGoal on Facebook
Connect with NexGoal on LinkedIn

Read More