How NHL Goalies Live in the Moment OVERTHINKING UNDERMINES YOUR SUCCESS
On Feb. 22, 2020, David Ayres was sitting in the stands next to his wife watching a Carolina Hurricanes hockey game. By the end of the night, this 45-year- old Zamboni driver would be the first emergency goaltender to record a win in the history of the NHL. After the Hurricane’s first two goalies were taken out of the game due to injuries, Ayres was called onto the ice. He stopped eight out of 10 shots, helping the Hurricanes claim victory. This isn’t the first time an emergency goalie has been called in to help win an NHL game. When Scott Foster, a 36-year-old accountant, was called in as an emergency goalie for a 2017 Blackhawks home game, he didn’t let a single puck
A good goalie cannot overthink anything. They must be able to assess the situation and react instantaneously to block a speeding puck. Physical training is only half the battle. Achieving true success means mastering the psychological game. This kind of mental fortitude can be valuable in business, too. “The key difference between those who get the gold medal and those who don’t is between the ears,” says Martin Turner, senior lecturer in sport and exercise psychology at Staffordshire University. “Business leaders can learn to develop robust psychological skills to help them fulfill their potential under pressure, and importantly, help others around them fulfill their potential.”
How can you learn to stop yourself from overthinking during high-pressure situations? Don’t view those high-pressure situations as life or death.
“It was wild; it was fun,” said Ayres after his historic win. “These guys were awesome. They said to me, ‘Have fun with it, don’t worry about how many goals go in. This is your moment — have fun with it.’” “Have fun” is exactly what Ayres did, and the Hurricanes won the game. When you find yourself overthinking a high-pressure situation, remind yourself that no matter what decision you make, it’s not the end of the world. That moment is just one of many opportunities you’ll be presented with. Above all else, keep a positive outlook. Win or lose, success or failure, being positive will always take you far.
past him. How are ordinary men like Ayres and Foster able to go from sitting in the bleachers to crushing it on the ice at a moment’s notice? They have the remarkable ability to thrive under pressure by not overthinking their situation.
LESSONS LEARNED FROM SUMMER JOBS
What was your favorite summer job? I had several different jobs over the
summers in my youth, but my favorite was working as a lifeguard on Lake Michigan. I spent my afternoon and evenings sitting on the beach, watching people play in the waves and enjoying the sunshine. As far as summer jobs go, that was an awesome summer gig. Over the years, I’ve noticed that fewer teenagers seem to be working during the summer. The Pew Research Center found that in 1978, 58% of teenagers had summer jobs. In 2018, that number had dropped to 34.6%. Is this a sign that today’s teens aren’t as hardworking as past generations? Not at all. The reality is simply that there are fewer low-skill, entry- level jobs available for teens to work during the summer. Additionally, many schools now end later in June or start before Labor Day, which removes them from consideration for many hospitality jobs. Also, employers are less likely to hire young workers who need to be trained and can only work for a few weeks.
a schedule, and how to work with others, especially people outside of our social circles. These early jobs can even give us a lifelong appreciation for how hard certain jobs really are. Paychecks from a summer job often provide young people with their first experience of managing money. Some young people aren’t getting this crucial life skill until they land a full-time job after they complete their schooling. At this point, the financial stakes are higher and the responsibilities greater. The lack of summer job opportunities for teenagers has not been holding young people back from getting valuable life experiences. Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that more teens are voluntarily taking high school or college classes over the summer, doing volunteer work, or taking unpaid internships. These are great opportunities, yet parents should be aware of what their teen might be missing by not working summer jobs, especially when it comes to personal finance. As parents recognize this fact, they are hopefully more likely to help their children understand the nuances of good money management and maybe even teach them how to avoid some of the lessons many adults have to learn the hard way. Did you have a summer job that you’re still telling stories about? Or maybe you were ahead of the trend and spent your summers volunteering. We’d love to hear about your experiences! Share your stories now on our Facebook page by searching DLJ Tax Services LLC at Facebook.com .
The decline of summer jobs for teens is troubling because youths miss out on an important life experiences to build future success upon. Summer jobs teach us responsibility, the importance of keeping 2 APPLETON: 920-944-6020 • NORTHEAST GEORGIA: 678-491-9744
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