What’s Next? Figuring Out Your Next Chapter - It’s Easier Than You Think!

So, there you are—maybe fresh off the field / court / rink, out of the courtroom, the boardroom, or the agency life you’ve known forever, and for the first time in a long time, you’re thinking, “Okay… what’s next?”

Welcome to the club. Whether you’ve been crushing it in sports, finance, law, marketing, or farming, the idea of stepping into something totally different can feel equally thrilling and terrifying. Kind of like showing up to a game and realizing you’ve got the wrong playbook (and maybe the wrong shoes!).

But the good news is that you’re not starting from scratch. You’re starting from experience.

Here’s how to start figuring out your next move without spiraling or making any sudden decisions that involve buying a food truck. (Unless that’s your dream, in which case, count me in for whatever you’re making!)

Step One: Take Inventory

What actually gets you excited? Not just what you’re good at, but what gives you that jolt of energy. Think about the moments in your past roles where you felt lit up, whether it was leading a team, solving a complex problem, mentoring someone, or turning chaos into calm. These aren’t just memories, they’re clues. Doing the Personal Strengths Tracker* will get you there!

Step Two: Find the Transferable Gold

You’d be amazed how many skills move seamlessly across industries. Being an athlete taught you discipline, teamwork, resilience. Being a lawyer taught you to think critically, speak confidently, and handle high-pressure situations. These traits? Valuable everywhere. It’s just about learning how to frame them in a way that resonates with where you want to go.

Step Three: Test Drive New Lanes

You don’t have to have your next 20 years figured out right now! Try stuff. Volunteer, consult, take a class, or hop on a Zoom panel. I never imagined I’d get into executive search, but the opportunity presented itself, and I made it my career for over two decades! Trying things on for size lets you discover what fits, and maybe more importantly, what doesn’t.

Step Four: Ask for Advice (Yes, Really)

I get it, you’re used to being the go-to, the expert. But making a pivot is exactly when you should lean on your network, mentors, or even a coach like me. Talk to people who’ve made the leap. Their insight could save you months of spinning your wheels or at least point you toward a better GPS.

Step Five: Redefine “Success”

This part’s huge. You’re not walking away from your past; you’re building on it. Redefining success means giving yourself permission to explore a version of you that maybe you’ve kept on the back burner. And when you bring the same passion, focus, and work ethic to something new, you might just surprise yourself.

Next Steps To Take

So, if you’re wondering what the next chapter looks like, good news. You get to write it. And if you need someone to help you draft the first paragraph (or even the table of contents), you know where to find me.

Ready to explore your next move? Let’s hop on a quick call and talk through where you are and where you want to go. 👉 Click here to send me a note to get started! mark@winagainacademy.com

Let’s win again—together.

Man vs. Bull with Alex Goins

Join us for a powerful conversation with Alex Goins, a U.S. Army veteran and professional bull rider, as he shares his journey from serving his country to conquering the rodeo arena.

📅 Tuesday, April 29th

🕐 1:00 PM ET

📍 Win Again Clubroom (Virtual Event)

Register here: https://www.linkedin.com/events/manvs-bullwithalexgoins7317947819447771136/

In this exclusive Win Again Clubroom event, Alex will dive into:

> His transition from military life to professional sports

> The mental and physical challenges of bull riding

> How discipline, resilience, and purpose have shaped his path

> Lessons learned that can inspire athletes, veterans, and entrepreneurs alike

Whether you're navigating your own career shift or just looking for a jolt of motivation, you won't want to miss this inspiring session.

Free to attend — open to all athletes, veterans, professionals, and curious minds.

See you in the Clubroom!

The Win Again Clubroom

Do yourself and your business / career a favor and join the Win Again community, you'll be thrilled you did! Not only will your network grow and become more valuable, but you'll be able to share your expertise with your fellow members and learn a bunch along the way.

See why we've had 1000+ impressive athletes, entrepreneurs, business owners and executives attend our 200+ Clubroom events which have led to over $1.5 million in deals!

The Win Again Clubroom platform is revolutionizing virtual networking because of the “live event” experience it emulates and the ease with which you can meet others and take your businesses and careers to a whole new level!

If you haven't been to the Clubroom, you'll be amazed at how easy it is to move table to table, speaking with whoever you want, whenever you want, not being stuck in breakout rooms here!

Develop valuable relationships that become collaborations - it's been such a great way to expand our networks!

For those of you who have, feel free to tell a friend or three who you believe could use an upgrade in their circle of connections!

Read more about it here: https://www.winagainacademy.com/the-clubroom

30 Seconds with Mark

51 - 49

There are going go to be days when you really don't want to do something, but sometimes all you need is that extra 1% to tip the scales.

When 51% of you says yes, that’s your sign to get up and go after it. Push past the doubt and make the choice to move forward.

Go get 'em!

Be sure to check out the Win Again YouTube channel for more quick tips!

Win Again Assessments

Are you ready to launch a new chapter in life, and need the guidance, tips and strategies to truly catapult you forward?

Then let's partner up!

I'm certified in offering valuable assessments that feature Axiology, the study of values.

Wait until you see how they highlight not just your strengths and how to leverage them, but also some of the things that you could use some work on.

Ask to see a sample report, you'll be amazed at how thorough and accurate they are!

Whether you are a graduating student, a seasoned professional, a retiring executive or member of our military, or a current or retired athlete, there are assessments that fit your background and future careers and businesses.

Check out a few of the most valuable and insightful assessments here: https://www.winagainacademy.com/assessments

Reach out to me directly at mark@winagainacademy.com.

WIN AGAIN! - The Job Search Playbook

WIN AGAIN! The Job Search Playbook, is filled with over 150 pages of my proven WIN AGAIN methodology, where you’ll discover how to define your true identity outside of being an athlete, plan your path towards an ideal job and business and work towards it.

You’ll turn strangers into allies and grow your network as you position yourself for meetings and interviews, negotiate offers, and anticipate your prospective client's or employer’s needs.

WIN AGAIN helps you transition from the playing field to the boardroom. Yes, there’s competition in the corporate world, but you’re used to competing.

You’ve already got an edge!!

You can join the WIN AGAIN social media pages, its LinkedIn Group, Facebook page and follow on Twitter to be able to access exclusive content just for you.

Order your copy of Win Again! here: https://www.amazon.com/Win-Again-Athletic-Excellence-Business/dp/0999387103/

ABOUT ME

Combining my passion for sports and a desire to help others succeed, I founded Win Again, where current and former athletes can discover their identity beyond sports, develop the structure needed to succeed again, and receive the tips, strategies and actionable advice that allows them to WIN AGAIN and be elite in their next great career.

Over the past 20+ years as a business advisor and career coach, I have guided athletes and executives, holding them accountable during their transition.

The Win Again Clubroom events, "Make Your Mark" podcasts, and MYM Live webinars highlight athletes who are making a positive impact post-playing career, and my book “Win Again!” is a job search playbook for athletes, equipping them with strategies needed to land their ideal job or boost their entrepreneurial ventures.

As a graduate of Colgate University and a longtime Manhattan resident with my wife, kids, and Duke, I enjoy playing ice hockey, softball and golf, along with the guitar and piano.

Reach out to me anytime and let me know how I can be of service!

If you've read this far, many thanks for sharing your time with us at Win Again and have a great rest of your day!

Thanks to our Win Again partners!