On this episode of Youth Career Readiness, Alec Ingold, fullback for the Miami Dolphins and advocate for youth development, joined us from the ASU + GSV Summit to share his advice for middle and high school students exploring future careers. He encouraged young people to be bold about their dreams, to write down their goals and fears, and to create a daily, actionable plan focused on things within their control.
Michael Horn
Today, we're highlighting someone who's not only a powerhouse on the football field, but also a leader off of it: fullback Alec Ingold. Known for his grit and heart, Alec went from being an undrafted free agent to a respected starter in the NFL, currently playing for the Miami Dolphins. But his impact goes far beyond touchdowns. Alec is a passionate advocate for financial literacy, adoption awareness, and youth development. He's even authored a book aimed at helping young people lead with intention. I'm pleased now to kick it off to GSV's Brent Peus, who has our question lined up for Alec.
Brent Peus
The question we have for you today is how, if you were to give advice or mentor middle school or high school students, how would you advise them on how to approach thinking about careers in the future?
Alec Ingold
Careers in the future. That's a good question. Feel like I want to talk to the kids, right? Like, so if we're talking, I'm giving you a piece of advice on careers. Whatever you're thinking about, dreaming about. The first piece of advice, that one piece would be be bold. Be bold. Be courageous. That little voice inside your head, that dream that you've been thinking about for a long time, you're a little embarrassed maybe to say it out loud.
Somebody asks, you want to be in the NFL? And like, you kind of put that hand halfway up. If you have that urge, if you have that gut feeling, chase it. Understand everything that might have to come with that work, that dream. Write it down, write down that goal, write down that dream, write down that dream job that's going to do everything for you, the thing that brings you passion and purpose. Then underneath that goal, you write down your biggest fear. What's holding you back, what's hindering you from being the best version of yourself, of going all in, of chasing this dream. Understanding and articulating that fear on a piece of paper puts a face to the name.
And it's not so scary anymore. It's not that voice in the back of your head telling you to stop to second guess yourself. And anything that's holding you back. Being able to write it down is going to be great for you. And then make an action plan. Three things that you can control every single day. I feel like that's giving you tangible goals to be able to do. Not things that you can't control.
Not that job interview, not accomplishing something outside of your control. What can you do every single day? No snooze, getting a good breakfast, going to every class. Like whatever those things you can do that you can control every single day. You have a goal. You articulate your fear and now you have an action plan to trust yourself that you're making marginal gains. 1% gains every single day.
Brent Peus
I couldn't have said any better than that. Well said.
Alec Ingold
I love it.
Brent Peus
Thanks, Alec.
Alec Ingold
Go get it.
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