Getting really good at something takes a long time. You can get good at something that creates value for others, or you can get really good at something that is just a hobby.
Compound interest is when you lever actions over time into the future. It is very powerful in a career. Skills, experience, relationships, connections, and resources that are accumulated over time can be used to do more faster and make more progress in a month or year than someone who just started more recently.
That being said, what would we steer our kids into when they are young – basketball or Boy Scouts?
Soccer or a trade? Would we rather they go to a school on a football scholarship or one for a profession?
Ok, I know I may have lost half the crowd here – so let me say this. I love sports. Kids learn how to train, practice, work together, win and lose. They gain confidence which is really important.
I am highly involved in my sport – motocross and racing motorcycles. This sport makes no money – it only costs money. I don’t do it for the money, I do it for fun, challenge, and adventure.
My son was a competitive archer when he was 13 and 14, and finished third in the world championships. I had him riding a motorcycle at five years old. My daughter rides horses competitively. I love sports. Fun to play, fun to watch. To see someone at the top of their game it quite amazing.
But sports is not a trade or viable profession for very many people. Obviously so few make it to the pros. When your career ends because you didn’t make the cut at the next level, you are done. All that effort can’t be levered into a trade people pay for so you can begin to make a living and eventually get really really good at it.
No compound interest.
I realize I am losing my way with this post and I bear some risk of upsetting people who are really involved in sports. And I know most of you have no aspirations to get your child into the NHL or NBA. You are just having a great time growing up and teaching physical arts – very important in the world of screens.
Let me tell you the real reason I began writing this. I pondered this question –
You have a kid in the projects who is aimless. You want to help. Do you teach him basketball or plumbing? Football or how to write code?
Which will help him most in his life?
We live in the same town we grew up in and I was lamenting this morning how the path across the park which we used to walk to school on no longer shows. Kids aren’t walking the path they’re being driven to school. I know I’m gonna sound like an old fart but parents are doing way too much for their kids. When I was growing up yes I played sports but I also started my first business a lawnmowing business. And worked for my father and his remodeling business. as you have stated I learned from both but the second is what put bread on the table and employees 20 families.
Larry- I really enjoy your posts!! I tell ya what would help a kid most in life. A Dad that takes their kid to the archery range (we love archery too), or the race track. Teaching a trade is easy. Ask your managers how many times do they have to “re-parent” a team member. Most valuable thing to spend on a kid is time. Thanks for the thought-provoking posts
You don’t pick one over the other; you do both. Kids – no matter where they come from – should be exposed to multiple activities. How else will they learn what they want to do? As for sports, they are more valuable than you give them credit for being here. Teamwork, relationship-building, competition and more. Perhaps the most important benefit of sports for kids – especially in an increasingly screen-dominated world – is sports teaches kids to test their limits. Faster, higher and stronger. If kids fail, they learn; if they succeed, they build confidence. Sports are a tremendous teacher. (Having said all this, the pay for play model that now dominates youth sports is a negative influence.)
….but you love the Green Bay Packers, right???? Kidding aside…we always told our kids they just had to be involved in “something”. A club, sports, charity work, get a job….anything. They couldn’t just stay at home parked in front of the TV or computer. Lucky for us, they picked a variety, which included sports AND clubs AND charity work AND jobs. They’ve grown into well rounded adults that we are proud of. I would have never wanted them to pursue a professional sports career, even if they were super good at something. That is a short term benefit and a short term goal. I see a lot of parents pouring money into their kids sports needs. Equipment, trainers, physical therapy etc., for a sporting career that, let’s face it, often ends at high school graduation or if they are really good, at college graduation. Be in sports if you like them, but do something else too. Just my opinion. Great topic of conversation! GO PACK GO!
I spent 6th-12th grade in band (sports werent my thing) but I also got a part time job at 16. I loved band but my part time retail job gave me life skills that I still use today. Sports teach important skills and I believe there needs to be a balance, which can be touch to achieve at any age.
I couldn’t agree more with this… too many parents “think” their child is going to be the next big sports star and they push and push him or her thinking they will turn pro. It is pretty simple , if the child has it in him/her they will do it on their own. Same as trying to be an actor/actress or musician…Very difficult to be a “star”. Best to learn a trade or profession for a lifetime. Play your sport you love for fun. If you are meant to be a star you will be.
I once read that it takes 2000 hours of continued practice to become an “expert” in any field. It takes determination, perseverance, and much dedication, be it in sports, a trade, a profession, or any other area. So hang in there and give it your all- whatever your area of interest.
Spot on!
Larry, I respect sports and the team player mentality that sports spawn when played and coached right. By that, I mean the proper lessons need to be taught while playing. I’m not a fan of the everyone get’s a trophy mentality plan that most kids and parents expect these days. Call me old fashioned if you’d like, but I played sports when I was young. In fact, I was the top catcher in baseball in high school from 1982 to 1986. In 86 I never got a base stolen on me, I batted fourth (clean up) and I hit three grand slam homeruns that year also. I was at the top of the game in baseball in high school. I was scouted and offered scholarships to play for several colleges. As good as I was, it wasn’t for me. I found out why it wasn’t for me when I started turning wrenches in my shop classes in high school and the place I lived in. By the way, I was also offered and accepted a scholarship for a local trade school on trades as well. People said I was crazy for turning down the offers to play college ball, but I love working with my hands and seeing the results due to my efforts. To say I’m a huge fan of the Trades is a major understatement! I wouldn’t change my decision if I could. I’m extremely grateful that I have gotten to do exactly what I was designed to do!
The trades would seem to be the logical, long game choice. Although, sports would also teach about hard work and team work. In addition, to the trades, good work ethic and people skills would certainly put together a good start for a young person.
Completely agree with the point on surface level, however I’d suggest that the life lessons learned in sports play a large role in developing an individual who is better equipped to succeed as a plumber or any profession. Teamwork. Sacrifice. Perseverance… and so on. The specific trade skill is undoubtedly more valuable than the skill of shooting a basketball or hitting a fastball, but the overall experience in sports –especially a team sport– can profoundly shape a young person for the better.
Amen! Teach a man to fish and he can feed himself. Learn a marketable trade and the odds are in your favor. Sports is a looooong shot.
You make a good point and I agree completely. When I was a child I played baseball and loved it. We all aspired to be a pro one day and we all had some pro athlete that was our hero. When I was a teen I quit because we moved to a rural area that didn’t have a ball league and I started working. By that time I had realized that I wasn’t cut out for the majors and I could actually make good money if I worked construction with my dad. What if we treated the trades like a sport? What if we had trade camps, competitive building projects, pro builders with trading cards? What if we made the trades as fun as sports? We would then be super productive, have fun while doing it and all eventually become a well paid “pro”!