NFL Playoff Quarterbacks, Film Directors, and Career Success
I think many people are too hard on themselves when they assess their careers. Success hasn’t come fast enough, or not at all, or they feel that they’re chosen the wrong career.
I remember standing in Barnes and Noble in the late 90s reading Forbes and wondering: Am I the only person who’s not getting rich in tech stocks? That didn’t end well, but you get the idea.
However, many high achievers find success later in life, or after making a career change. Two professions that illustrate this point are NFL quarterbacks and film directors. Before we get to those professionals, let’s talk about how work have changed for many people.
Sorry- I have to mention the pandemic.
Contents
The impact of the pandemic
The pandemic has caused people to rethink aspects of their lives, including how they work. Here’s an example: my kids are 30, 27, and 22- I don’t think they will ever hold jobs that require them to be in an office 5 days a week. Workers just aren’t willing to go back to the office.
Reviewing worker satisfaction
I was surprised to find that job satisfaction in November of 2020 was relatively high- the highest in 20 years, according the to The Conference Board. The reason? Companies that value employees made efforts to improve:
“During the pandemic, companies devoted more efforts and resources toward supporting the well-being of employees and their families. Companies stepped up and responded with compassion, flexibility, and support during the chaos of the pandemic and social unrest, helping to keep overall job satisfaction for workers at a high level.”
Maybe you experienced this in your job. The pandemic hit, and your employer gave you the tools to work from home, offered more flexibility. The firm understood the challenges caused by the virus. All good stuff.
What about entrepreneurs?
The state of entrepreneurship
As Forbes reports, there’s good and bad news. On the negative side, business owners face “higher prices, hiring difficulties, supply chain headaches. And unrelenting uncertainty over the trajectory of the national economy.”
Fortunately, most businesses have reopened, and companies have benefited from increased customer spending after lockdowns, particularly online spending.
While you may be content with your job or business now, many professionals wonder if they’re on the right career path. Am I succeeding? Have I chosen the right career path or business plan?
I’ve had three careers: investment advisor, CPA, and business writer. Explaining my path takes time- longer than most people want to listen.
Let’s provide some perspective.
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What playoff quarterbacks teach us
The best NFL quarterbacks have consistent success in their careers, and outperform other athletes each year.
Oh, wait- that’s not the case.
Just consider the backgrounds of three quarterbacks who made the January ’22 payoffs:
Tom Brady
Selected 199th overall in the 6th round of the 2000 NFL draft. When he enrolled at the University of Michigan, he was 7th of the depth chart. “He fought his way up the depth chart only to have his head coach give a blue chip stud a chance to dethrone him. Brady had to fight to stay on the field.”
Now considered the greatest NFL player of all time (you know, the GOAT).
Joe Burrow
Was a backup for two years at Ohio State, then transferred to LSU. Once arriving in the NFL, he suffered a “potentially devastating knee injury that threatened to wipe out more than just the end of his promising rookie season in Cincinnati.”
Led the Bengals to their first payoff appearance since 1988- and the Super Bowl.
Josh Allen
Attended junior college after not receiving any Division 1 football scholarship offers, and then transferred to Wyoming. Set franchise records for regular season passing yards and touchdowns at Buffalo.
These high achievers have struggled- just like the rest of us. Comforting, in a way.
Film directors are another great example.
Interesting film director careers
A small number of performers in any line of work take off like a rocket.
At age 25, Orson Welles co-wrote, produced, directed and starred in Citizen Kane. His film debut is considered one of the greatest in movie history (ranked #1 by the American Film Institute).
I saw the movie Jaws at least four times in theatres while in middle school (1975). The film made $400 million at the box office and won three Oscars. Steven Spielberg started filming without a finished script, or the actors he wanted. He also took the huge risk of filming in the Atlantic Ocean, where the logistics were far more difficult.
He was 29.
Spielberg continues to produce and direct movies, but he had a big success before the age of 30.
There are a number of directors who continue to find success much later in life.
John Huston
Huston both acted and directed films for decades, playing Noah Cross in Chinatown when he was 68 years old (a movie that is well worth you time). He was nominated for 10 Oscars, winning two.
Martin Scorsese
Scorsese made The Irishman when he was 77 years old. The co-stars, Robert DeNiro, Al Pacino, and Joe Pesci were all over 70. This director has made successful movies for decades, including Taxi Driver, Raging Bull, and Goodfellas.
Clint Eastwood
Eastwood is 91- not a typo- and has made great movies in his 70s and 80s. He won Oscars for Million Dollar Baby and Unforgiven.
So where does this leave us?
There is no “right path”
If you have passion and enjoy what you do, stick with it. It’s perfectly fine to change careers if something isn’t working, or if you feel that you’re on the wrong track.
What you’re trying to achieve is difficult, so give yourself some credit.
There is no right path- only your path.