Are You Addicted to Sports?

In sports, many high-achieving athletes have an addiction. This addiction doesn’t stop when sports are over. We categorized three types of addiction in sports. Most high-achieving athletes possess all the traits, and some may just possess one or two. All can be attributed to success in the real world when applied.
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Addiction to Competition
Are you constantly looking forward to the next game? When a game gets rained out/cancelled do you get upset? When you played your last game of the year were you anxious or depressed? Does a bad loss make you want to play again? If you said yes to any of these, you’re likely addicted to competing.  Games are a very important aspect in an athlete’s development, but they also leave players longing for the next one. In sports, when you lose you want to play again, and when you win you want to play again. The losses and failures in sports are equally as addictive as a great win. When a player plays his/her last game what are they going to do? Oftentimes this addiction to competition translates to competing in business, sales, coaching, or anything to scratch the competitive itch.

Addiction to Camaraderie
Do you LOVE your team, I mean truly LOVE them? Do you think about the bus rides, preparation, team dinners, and the social aspect of sports?  If so, you have an addiction to camaraderie. Games and competition are very important; however, the social skills and memories you make with your brothers/teammates will last a lifetime. It does not stop there either. These social interactions correlate to careers in the military, teachers/administration, police officers, firefighters, small businesses, medical teams, and several other corporate America jobs where functioning as a team is necessary to the success of the organization. These social skills you develop from playing on a TEAM will have a tremendous impact on you in life.

Addiction to the Process
Do you compete in practice? Do you constantly think of ways to improve in the off-season? Do you look forward to going to practice or lifting almost as much as games? If you answer yes to any of these, you are likely addicted to the process. The process is what it takes behind the scenes to be great. The process isn’t superficial either. It’s not just showing up and preparing in a mundane manner, just to say you were there. It is more about the preparation on your own behind the scenes when no one else is watching.  These types of athletes will typically display longevity in their sport.  Addiction to the process translates well in autonomous jobs like entrepreneurs, IT, management, creatives, marketing, etc.
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If an athlete is addicted to competition, camaraderie, and process he/she is a triple threat. High-achieving athletes tend to be addicted to all three. Businesses want competitive candidates that want to win. Athletes are constantly competing in life, even when the sun sets on their athletic careers.