Working in seasons
Just like you, I wish I lived the life of a pro athlete.
But probably not for the reasons you think.
More than the money, fame, or lifestyle, what I most want to replicate is how they work in seasons.
Let me explain.
Take an NBA player as an example. Your season runs from October to April (or June, if you make it to the end of the playoffs). The seasonality of your job dictates how you approach your work.
In the preseason, youâre focused on building chemistry with your new teammates and coaching staff.
When youâre âin season,â youâre competing hard in your games and prioritising recovery so you can make it through the season injury-free.
In the postseason, you take your mind off basketball for a while, before getting back in the gym, getting stronger, and maybe working to add a new jumper or post move.
Itâs only because a time-bound season exists that NBA players can separate periods of training, competition, and recovery. Imagine if the 82 games in a season were spread throughout the whole year, with no beginning or end. Players wouldnât get a chance to improve season-to-season, and worse, thereâd be a lot less excitement to it all.
That sounds an awful lot like most corporate careersâŚand maybe thatâs why so many of us find them soul-draining.
Iâve been thinking about this recently because Iâve just ended a season and am gearing up to start a new one. The nervous excitement is palpable. I think thatâs great.
If youâre an engineer, lawyer, accountant, etc., consider the possibility that âworking in seasonsâ might not only make you better at what you do, but also lead to you enjoying your work much more.