NIL = Professional Development
Love it or hate it, let's double-down on the undeniably good part of NIL - the 5 professional development opportunities it presents.
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Are you a Howard Stern “hater”?
Have you ever heard this Howard Stern statistic?
Back when he was on terrestrial radio, the average Howard Stern fan listened to him for 1 hour and 20 minutes a day.
The average Stern hater listened to him for 2 and half hours a day!
I’m no Howard Stern, but I’ve surveyed my readers and guess what? Half of my NIL/edu newsletter readers hate NIL.
So why do they keep reading? I think there are three reasons.
First, I’m not an NIL advocate. I research, analyze, and present information about NIL for the purpose of my NIL education and consulting practice. I’m not here to evangelize or convince anybody of anything.
Second, many of my readers feel an obligation to remain educated on NIL. They are willing to spend their valuable time learning about something they know is important, regardless of whether they support it.
And third, because these non-supporters can still find a kernel of good in NIL.
And some of those undeniable pieces of NIL good are the 5 professional development opportunities that it presents.
NIL can close the professional development gap
Some of us (me included) who love college athletics, tend to see the student-athlete experience through rose-colored glasses. I sometimes wrongly assume that all student-athletes had a similar experience to my own, that included:
Leadership lessons from playing for incredible coaches
Lifelong relationships with teammates
A superior network of alumni that have helped me throughout my career
But many student-athletes in fact have fewer professional development opportunities compared to students who don't play a sport, due to:
Time constraints based on demanding schedules, travel commitments, and academic responsibilities
Lack of exposure to diverse career paths leading to a narrower scope of career opportunities
Financial considerations that can lead to student-athletes to prioritize immediate earnings over long-term professional development opportunities
NIL can help close that professional development gap, becoming a 4-year course in 5 pillars of professional development: time management, goal setting, personal branding, “pitch” prep (sales, interviews, etc.), and networking.
Time Management
Time management is the art of organizing and prioritizing tasks to maximize efficiency and productivity. It involves allocating time wisely to one’s essential responsibilities.
Effective time management allows individuals to accomplish more in less time, reducing stress and enhancing overall work-life balance. Strategies include creating schedules, setting deadlines, prioritizing tasks, and minimizing distractions.
The priorities of a student-athlete are academic and team related. And many student-athletes don't realize the time commitment of NIL.
If not managed, NIL can create stress and makes an athletes academic and athletic success more difficult.
Understanding whether a student-athlete has time for NIL - and then managing that time - is critical to their success.
Here's a simple process a student-athlete can follow to make the decision to participate in NIL or not:
Evaluate Existing Commitments: Review the student-athlete’s existing academic and athletic commitments. Understand their time requirements and deadlines.
Assess Available or Unscheduled Time: Evaluate a daily or weekly schedule to identify available time slots. Be realistic about the time that could be allocated to NIL without compromising existing commitments.
Consider Long-Term Commitments: Assess the long-term nature of NIL. Some NIL commitments may be short-term (like a one-month social media campaign), but most will span much longer periods.
Anticipate the Impact of NIL: Consider how NIL may impact stress levels, well-being, and the overall balance of academic and athletic life. Ensure that adding NIL won't lead to burnout.
Be Realistic: Set realistic expectations about the student-athlete’s capacity for NIL. Understand their limits and recognize that overcommitting can hinder their overall effectiveness.
If a student-athlete decides to participate, there are three time management tactics that are proven to work for many student-athletes.
To-Do lists: Create an effective to-do list by prioritizing tasks, breaking down larger tasks, using specific language, including time estimates, having a daily focus on those tasks, regularly reviewing and updating, incorporating deadlines, and celebrating achievements.
Time Blocking: Allocate specific blocks of time for focused work on particular tasks. Student-athletes can make time blocking effective by scheduling specific time slots for different tasks, focusing on one task at a time, setting realistic durations, and incorporating breaks. Use this structured approach to enhance productivity and manage time efficiently.
Finally, eliminate distractions by creating a dedicated workspace, turning off non-essential notifications (e.g., smartphones and social media apps), setting specific work hours, using productivity apps, communicating boundaries with others - like roommates, and incorporating focused work intervals.
Goal Setting
Adapting goals to changing circumstances is a sign of resilience, growth, and practicality. It enables a student-athlete to remain agile and responsive, ensuring that their goals continue to reflect their evolving aspirations and the reality of their current situation. This process helps them stay motivated, reduce stress, and ultimately achieve greater success and fulfillment.
A student-athlete should consider following this path to create their NIL goals:
Define NIL goals by identifying passions, assessing values, and considering both short-term and long-term aspirations. This will help determine the kinds of companies a student-athlete might want to work with. Remember to make sure goals are specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (see below for more on SMART), creating a clear roadmap for success.
Consider the many type of NIL activities - social media, camps, clinics, private instruction, licensing, developing a business, or more. Then prioritize those activities based on available time.
Next, create a goal-oriented action plan by creating manageable tasks and setting timelines. Prioritize next steps based on importance and feasibility, regularly review progress, and adjust the plan as needed. Try to make steady progress toward achieving goals - and don't get discouraged if things take longer than expected.
Regularly monitoring NIL goals provides insights for adjustments. Achieving goals prompts growth and boosts confidence. Setting new goals fosters continuous improvement, which is part of what makes pursuing NIL an opportunity for professional development.
The SMART goal-setting acronym is a widely used framework for setting and achieving specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound goals. Here's what each letter of SMART stands for:
S - Specific: A goal should be clear and well-defined, leaving no room for ambiguity. When setting a specific goal, answer the following questions: What do you want to accomplish? Why is it important? Who is involved? Where will it happen? What are the requirements and constraints?
M - Measurable: Goals should be quantifiable, allowing you to track your progress and determine when you've successfully achieved them. Include measurable criteria to answer questions like: How much? How many? How will I know when the goal is accomplished?
A - Achievable: Goals should be realistic and attainable. While it's good to set challenging goals, they should still be possible to achieve given your current resources and constraints. Ensure that you have the skills, tools, and resources needed to reach your goal.
R - Relevant: Goals should be relevant and aligned with your overall objectives and values. Ensure that the goal matters to you, and it fits into your broader plans. Consider whether the goal is worthwhile and whether it's the right time to pursue it.
T - Time-Bound: Goals should have a specific timeframe or deadline. This sets a sense of urgency and prevents goals from dragging on indefinitely. Define when you plan to achieve the goal and any intermediate deadlines along the way.
Become a paid subscriber to NIL/edu to read the rest of this edition on Personal Branding, “Pitch” Prep (sales, interviews, etc.), and Networking.
Paid subscriptions include 4 NIL/edu newsletters per month, free access to the leading digital course - NIL/mba course (usually $150), and the archive of the Top 50 most popular newsletters I’ve published since 2020.
Personal Branding
Developing a personal brand involves establishing a unique identity and reputation that sets a student-athlete apart from others. Here are steps they can take to build and develop a personal brand:
First, self-reflection which is understand values, strengths, and passions and identifying the unique skills and expertise that a student-athlete can apply to NIL.
Next, defining a brand. Clearly defining what a student-athlete wants their personal brand to represent.
Third, identifying a target audience or the people a student-athlete wants to connect with and tailoring their brand message to resonate with this audience.
Next, establishing a strong online presence through social media platforms - additionally, I recommend that every student-athlete pursuing NIL should have a personal website.
And related to that online presence, creating great content that reflects a student-athlete’s personal brand, expertise and adds values.
Finally, collecting and showcasing testimonials or recommendations that support a student-athlete’s personal brand.
Remember that building a personal brand is an ongoing process. A student-athlete may do this to help create NIL opportunities, but it won't be the last time they consider their personal brand.
Note - student-athletes need to keep their NIL marketplace bio and social media profiles updated. They are vital for managing their online presence and leveraging the benefits of these platforms. It's an essential part of building and maintaining their personal and professional reputation in the competitive NIL space.
And of course these have long-term implications. Effective social media profiles are crucial for personal and professional branding. They provide a snapshot of a person’s identity, showcase skills, and offer a platform for networking.
“Pitch” Prep (sales, interviews, etc.)
Much of NIL, like many professions, is “sales.”
It’s not dissimilar to a professional sales role, an interview process, or many other functions that professionals need to have success in to advance their career.
A big part of any “pitch” success is research.
Researching a potential NIL partner before engaging with them enables a student-athlete to create more meaningful connections and have more productive and impactful interactions.
Understanding a prospect ensures that the communication captures their attention.
When a student-athlete is well-informed, they can differentiate themselves from the dozens (or hundreds!) of other student-athletes.
Research can help a student-athlete identify whether a prospect is a good fit for their personal brand - thus saving them time by avoiding interactions with organizations that are unlikely to be a good partner.
After researching a brand or business, it's time to communicate with them. The more personalized and relevant your communication is, the more relevance and trust will be built.
Personalized communication is vital for building rapport. It increases engagement and significantly improves the likelihood of success.
Effective communication builds trust by demonstrating authenticity and understanding a brand's needs.
And lastly, effective communication is about relevance. Presumably, a brand and student-athlete's mutual area of interest is NIL.
Networking
NIL networking means establishing and nurturing professional relationships with individuals and organizations with whom a student-athlete might partner on NIL activities.
Establishing and nurturing professional relationships during college is crucial for future career success.
These connections provide valuable insights, advice, and support, helping student-athlete to explore career paths, gain industry knowledge, and secure employment post-graduation.
So how does a student-athlete take on such an important endeavor?
Keep it simple, but commit to introducing themselves every chance they get
Use the common interest they and a brand have in NIL - this allows them to focus on meeting people with whom they can mutually benefit
And finally, if selling themselves feels uncomfortable, focus on sharing information or insights that will be helpful to the brand
Networking with professionals creates opportunities for NIL - but more important for a student-athletes future - it's an opportunity for mentorship, internships, and jobs.
Networking allows individuals to tap into the "hidden job market," where many positions are filled through referrals and personal connections rather than traditional job postings.
Through NIL, student-athletes can establish relationships with professionals in their field of interest. These connections may include alumni, mentors, or industry experts.
Engaging with professionals provides insights into industry trends, company cultures, and specific job requirements. This knowledge helps individuals tailor their skills and experiences to match what employers are looking for.
Building a positive relationship with professionals can lead to referrals or recommendations when opportunities arise. Many companies prefer hiring candidates who come recommended by someone they trust.
Networking often leads to discovering jobs or internships. Professionals may inform their network about available internships within their organization or others, giving individuals a chance to apply before positions are publicly posted.
When professionals know a student-athlete personally and can vouch for their skills and work ethic, it enhances their chances of securing internships or jobs. Personal endorsements carry weight in the hiring process.
Networking allows a student-athlete to tailor their application based on insights gained from conversations with professionals. This targeted approach increases the likelihood of success when applying for internships or jobs.
