The views expressed by the business participants are their own.
Imagine devoting your entire childhood to one dream, then watching it crumble just as you’re about to achieve it. That’s exactly what happened to me when my long-time goal of becoming a soccer player collapsed at the age of 19. What turned out to be a painful life crisis was the push I needed to become an entrepreneur.
I was born in Miami, but when my family moved to Hyderabad, India when I was 5 years old, it introduced me to a whole new world. School wasn’t really my thing; Soccer was my true calling. When I was 14, my passion caught the attention of the manager of the Indian national team, and I got the chance to coach one of Germany’s top teams. It was a huge opportunity, but the reality of adapting to a new culture at such a young age was amazing.
My soccer journey continued at Ellesmere College in the UK, where I played for the varsity team. But despite all the hard work, a professional contract eluded me. Another path took me to play football at Monroe College in the US Although we won the NJCAA Division I national championship, I often found myself on the sidelines, realizing that I was not fit to be the best player. It was a terrible blow.
The day I accepted that my dream of becoming a professional football player would never come true is etched in my memory. It felt like my world was falling apart. Everything I worked for was gone. I felt directionless and unmotivated. I was devastated. But then I found a new path at Babson College, where I went on to play NCAA Division III soccer and where I joined eTower, an entrepreneurial community that reignited my passion for building and creating businesses. Not only did it give me a renewed sense of purpose but it also helped me overcome that feeling of not being good enough.
Surrounded by driven people like myself, I launched Kickstart Sports, a consulting business that helps Indian athletes find opportunities in Europe and the United States. The pandemic slowed that business, but opened up new opportunities. In 2020, I worked at Compstak, a real estate data company, participated in a real estate hedge fund in China, and ran the first VR/AR sneaker. All these experiences eventually led me to create DesignAI, a company that uses technology to redesign the way cities are built.
My entrepreneurial journey is uneven, full of failures and successes, heartbreaking frustrations and rewarding celebrations. Along the way, I persevered and repeated. Here are three important lessons that shaped my journey and how you can apply them to yours, even when you feel like you’re not enough.
Related: How to Find Comfort in Being Uncomfortable, No Matter Your Age – Lessons for Entrepreneurs
1. Rebuild confidence and find new purpose
When my football career ended, it felt like I lost a big part of me. I had to rebuild my confidence from scratch. This was not just about finding another job; it was about rediscovering who I am outside of soccer. I threw myself into new activities – rugby, student organisations, networking with people from different backgrounds. This assessment was instrumental in helping me find a new sense of purpose, which ultimately led me to entrepreneurship.
My advice: Actively seek new experiences, even if they are uncomfortable. You will find out what really makes you happy, what motivates you and what you are good at.
2. Develop and implement a strong support system
During this difficult transition, I learned how important a strong support system is. I reached out to counselors, leaned on friends who understood my struggles and found therapy incredibly helpful. This network became my lifeline, providing me with emotional support and helpful advice. One thing I did that worked really well was to send monthly updates to my mentors and key contacts. It kept me accountable and made sure I stayed on their radar for opportunities.
My advice: Build a support system with people who can challenge you, support you and help you see things from different perspectives. And, most importantly, keep those relationships alive, because they will continue to provide the support and feedback you need to get through the tough times.
Related: I Couldn’t Sleep. I Worried About My Failure. Then I Found The Weirdest Solution Of All – Fly Fishing?
3. Accept failure as a stepping stone
The failure of my soccer dream was a painful awakening, but it taught me resilience. I had to face the fact that life doesn’t go as planned, and that’s okay. I began to see failure as an opportunity to learn, an opportunity to grow and evolve. Books like The Psychology of Money again A Hard Thing About Hard Things helped reinforce this thought. I learned to reflect on my obstacles, extract lessons and use them to guide my next steps.
My advice: Don’t be afraid to fail. It is an important part of the business process, and it is what helps you to correct your path and keep moving forward. Every failure or setback is an opportunity to improve – for your business or your career.
When my soccer dream was shattered and I realized that I wasn’t good enough to make it that way, I learned that resilience, a strong support system and accepting your failures are important skills, especially for entrepreneurs. Challenges will come and the road will be rough. But if you surround yourself with the right people and refuse to back down, you can create your own version of success.
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