You are Your Brand
As a college athlete aiming to have a career in professional sports, one fact that you can never take lightly is the fact that you are your brand. You must do all you can to protect your brand. Teams, agencies, sports networks all prefer not to deal with the headache of an athlete who is constantly in trouble or associated with trouble. Protect your brand by doing these few things: 1. WATCH THE COMPANY YOU KEEP. My mother used to say "Show me your friends, and I'll tell you who you are." Those words are still true today. 2. THINK BEFORE YOU SPEAK OR TWEET OR POST. Words can do so much damage, even when the intent is good. You are under a microscope, so think first. Take an extra minute to think through the words you are about to share and the potential effect of those words. If you're the least bit unsure, wait a bit, ask a friend or simply keep the thought(s) to yourself. 3. THINK BEFORE YOU ACT. Your actions are just as powerful as your words on this kind of stage. Here's a simple rule: don't do anything dumb. If it seems dumb, it probably is, and you should avoid it. Remember, you're under a microscope. 4. PROMOTE THE POSITIVE. Remember to do good and promote positivity in what you do. We all know that those positive things won't garner nearly as much attention as if you got into trouble, but do it anyway. Because you can. As always, #LookBeforeYouLeap!