Are You More Than Your Job Title? Redefining Identity in Life After Sport
- Ryan Gonsalves
- May 11
- 2 min read
Let’s get straight to it
Your value has never been just your role. Not in sport. Not in work. Not in life.
When did “what you do” start to define “who you are”… especially in life after sport?
For years, my entire identity was wrapped up in being a footballer. The kit. The teammates. The routine.
And then it was being a banker. Working for the largest company in the word or the worlds local bank - the business class travel, upgrades and pyjamas on the odd First class leg (do miss that though).
But seriously, it wasn’t just what I did, it was how I introduced myself, how I measured my worth, and how I planned my future.
I’ve spoken to dozens of athletes on the 2ndwind Podcast who’ve felt a sense of emptiness when they leave that sport. that same emptiness, that moment when the applause stops, and you’re forced to reckon with: Who am I without the sport?
Jess Borg, a former Taekwondo and boxing athlete shared her perspective on finding career clarity:
“You’re not your sport. You’re not your title. And it’s okay to grieve the end of it.”
Because grieving isn’t just for loss, it’s for letting go of the version of you that no longer fits.
What if your next chapter wasn’t a step down, but a step deeper?
We think of career transitions like falling off a cliff. One chapter ends, and the next starts at rock bottom.
But what if it’s not a fall, rather a pivot?
A reframe.
You’re not starting from scratch. You’re starting from experience.
Discipline. Adaptability. Leadership under pressure. These don’t vanish when you hang up your boots.
Take Jess again, after retiring (twice), she didn’t crumble. She built.
She created NEEXT, a platform helping other athletes navigate their career identity transitions with legal, financial, and personal support.
Not because she had it all figured out but because she lived it.
What can you do when your identity starts to shift?
Here’s what I’d suggest same as I would to a teammate coming back from injury or retirement:
1. Zoom out and list what you’ve learned.
What traits did sport build in you? Not just the wins; the resilience, the grind, the team dynamics.
Write them down. See them on paper. You’ve got more to offer than you realize.
2. Let go of the “one path” mindset.
You’re allowed to pivot. You’re allowed to change your mind. Your career doesn’t have to climb a straight ladder, it can move sideways, creatively, and still grow.
3. Surround yourself with transition-minded people.
This is huge. Find others who’ve made the leap: mentors, peers, communities (like 2ndwind). Borrow their belief until you build your own.
Who are you becoming now?
If you’re in that foggy middle, between what was and what’s next, you’re not alone.
That space is uncomfortable, but it’s also fertile.
It’s where growth happens.
You’re more than your sport. More than your job title. And what comes next can be even more fulfilling if you give yourself permission to explore it.
🎧 Want more stories like Jess’?
🛠 Need help navigating your own career identity transition?
Check out our tools and resources at 2ndwind.io
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