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Constantly Curious

Athletes Die Twice: Navigating Life After Sports

A few weeks ago, at the Spielmacher Konferenz, I shared some thoughts on the unique journey professional athletes face when their careers come to an end—a transition often called the “first death.”

November 2024 · 2 min read

Title card reading ATHLETES DIE TWICE over a black-and-white floodlit stadium in night fog

For years, athletes pour everything into their sport. But when it’s over, there’s no more training, no more competition, no more cheering fans. It’s a tough moment of identity loss, and many aren’t ready for what comes next.

But it doesn’t have to be that way. Athletes have amazing skills—discipline, focus, mental toughness, strategic thinking—that can be applied beyond the game.

I talked about how modern athletes can start building their second career even while they’re still playing. Whether it’s through starting a business, investing, or building a personal brand, there’s a whole world of opportunities out there.

Key Takeaways

Start early: Think about your Plan B during your playing days. Find purpose beyond money: Discover what really motivates you. Use your network: Take advantage of your connections and opportunities before you retire Transfer your skills: Apply the resilience and strategic thinking from sports to new ventures.

Athletes like Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan, Kevin Durant and David Beckham have shown it’s possible to turn a successful sports career into success off the field.

Talk slide reading TRUST across two childhood photos: a boy crouched over a football and a boy running in a striped kit Two footballers with the World Cup trophy, one in sky-blue and white stripes lifting it high, the other kissing it Slide reading PURPOSE? over rows of empty stadium seats in black and white Empty stadium in the rain with the line: if your professional success is all that defines your story, its end equals your end Slide reading FALL FORWARD with a Denzel Washington quote about failing and trying, beside a portrait of a man in a grey suit Slide reading ATHLETES ARE A RARE BREED, listing traits from discipline to competitive drive, over a man in a check scarf Black-and-white portrait of a smiling man in a suit and tie beside the line: I’m not a businessman, I’m a business, man Diagram slide with three outlined labels, BRAND, VENTURE and SERVICES, held together inside one larger rounded frame Slide reading FOREVER FORWARD! over a footballer in purple and orange, his image repeated in a long motion trail

Today, more players are starting to build their Plan B. European footballers like Mario Götze and Cody Mathès Gakpo are already laying the groundwork for life after football.

The transition can be challenging, but with the right approach, it’s a journey worth taking.

Jürgen

PS: you can download the slides of my talk here.

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Constantly Curious.

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