College Grad Advice REMIX Wrestling Seniors Who Want Respect

Here is a great short article written to college grads beginning their job hunt:
Your Degree Doesn't Mean Squat


read the whole article to get the gist but here are the main points:
1. Your degree isn’t a golden ticket. We need to put an end to the “silver spoon complex.”
2. It’s all about experience.  The reason so many college graduates can’t find work is because they lack experience.
3. Passion will help you succeed. If you’re just looking to get hired anywhere, employers will be able to tell.
4. Companies hire the person who is certain to cause the most positive impact. Before you apply to your next job opening, ask yourself the following: What can you do for the company? 
 5. Go the extra mile. Success doesn’t come to those who wait.

I'm going to remix their advice to apply to seniors (or juniors) on  wrestling teams.  Some of you feel like you deserve leadership roles.  If you are not being treated the way some past captains were treated here are some things to consider:

1. Your grade or medal isn’t a golden ticket. Put an end to the “silver spoon complex.”  You have to earn leadership roles before people will actually follow you and your coach knows this.  Simply being a senior does not entitle you to anything on a wrestling team.  Ask yourself this, have you voluntarily stepped up as a leader?  You've had plenty of opportunities, getting practice started, setting the gym up for tournaments, and showing up at youth practice or camps to give back.  Show you deserve to be a leader by being one on your own without being asked.


2. It’s all about experience.  Seek out leadership opportunities outside of the wrestling room.  If you are reading this and are not yet an upperclassmen start earning that leadership role now.  There is an art to getting people to do what they might not want to do and making them want to do it with a positive attitude.  When you start voluntarily stepping up your coach can tell if you've lead anything before.  Try and find leadership roles in other aspects of your world to build that experience.


3. Passion will help you succeed. Be honest with yourself...  do you REALLY care about the success of the team?  One of my favorite quotes, "When you squeeze an orange you get orange juice."  When you are in a pinch, when the going gets tough, do your actions reflect a teammate that is PASSIONATE about wrestling AND team success.  It's not hard for a coach to see whether he says anything about it or not.  If you haven't done well here it is easy to change.  Start today!  Your coach is secretly begging you to make this change and you'll hear feedback pretty quick after you do.


4. Coaches choose a leader who is certain to cause the most positive impact. Before you get upset that coach is not treating you like a captain, ask yourself this: What can you do to impact the team? What specifically can you do to make the TEAM win?  You've stepped up as a leader, you've led elsewhere, and you really care...  NOW, can you actually make a difference on this team.  We are talking about CONFIDENCE and a sense of RESPONSIBILITY for any of last season's team failures.  What are you taking responsibility for making better on this team and are you confident you can do it?


 5. Go the extra mile. Success doesn’t come to those who wait. You have to give everything you do your all ... even if it means working late or on the weekends. Some people describe this as paying your dues, but it’s really just putting in the effort required to make an impact.  When a portion of the people in your life think you are doing TOO MUCH you are on your way.  You do not have to give up everything, but you will have to give up some things. Everyone has a priority list whether they realize it or not.  Some things are more important than being successful at wrestling.  The honest truth is this:  The more you prioritize ahead of your wrestling team's success the less likely anyone, including your coach, will look to you to lead the team.