At school, balancing training and studying, I learned that organisation is key and I had to be effective to optimize my time.
Off the pitch, I experienced how a hierarchy works and to respect people no matter their background. I’d come up against players that I imagined couldn’t get a ball from A to B… then an hour later my team had lost to them by 10 goals. I never judge or underestimate a person by what others say, or by their looks or background. I believe in giving everyone a chance and listening to their thoughts and ideas, as no one can hide their real personality or intentions when you make an effort to get to know them.
On the pitch, handball taught me two important lessons, the first is to never look back if something bad happens. I believe it’s important to analyse your mistakes but if you dwell on them for too long, or hesitate, you’ll never move forward and continue growing
The second lesson is the importance of decision making. As a goalkeeper, I usually had less than a second to react to block a shot. I never knew when or from what angle the ball would come but I had to trust my actions. Of course, these days I’m not making a decision in a matter of seconds, but I do believe that it’s better to sometimes make a wrong decision and deal with the consequences, instead of hesitating and missing out on opportunities.
My experiences as a professional handball player have truly helped shape the person I am today, and I’m grateful to be able to apply these lessons learned to my business practice.
