Struggling With Career Clarity After Sport? Start With Your Superstar CV

Ever sat down to update your resume and felt… blank?

Not because you didn’t do anything but because the words just didn’t fit. You scroll through job titles on LinkedIn, and none of them sound like you. They’re too flat, too small, too… not-it.

That feeling? That’s the fog that comes when your identity has been wrapped around performance for so long; in sport, in business, in chasing goals. And then suddenly, the arena changes.

Anyone who's had to pivot careers, re-enter the job market, or leave behind something they gave their heart to, you get this. It’s not about where you worked. It’s about who you were when you were doing it.

So how do you start again not from scratch, but from strength?

Let’s talk about something Gavin Freeman calls the Superstar CV - i love it!

What is a Superstar CV and Why Does It Matter?

“It’s the biggest pat on the back you’ve ever given yourself, the CV you’d never send to anyone else.”

Let that sink in.

This isn’t a resume for recruiters.

It’s not about job titles or bullet points.

It’s about reclaiming the feeling of what made you great.

It’s about reminding yourself; with no filter, no false modesty what you bring to the table. That stuff doesn’t go on a LinkedIn headline. But it’s everything.

How Do You Reconnect With Who You Are After Sport?

Here’s the tough part. When your career shifts especially after sport, you don’t just lose the routine.

You lose the reflection. You forget to look at yourself outside the jersey.

I’ll remind you here that your value isn’t tied to a title or a team.

In fact, when athletes transition out, it’s often not the sport they miss most. It’s the feeling that came with it.

That sense of purpose when you walk into a room and everyone knows your role.

That energy of being in sync with a group chasing the same goal.

That fire when competition makes you feel alive.

Gavin said it best:

“What people grieve isn’t the task. It’s the emotional connection to the skill.”

So if you want clarity about what’s next, you need to get clear about what that feeling was and how to find it again in new places.

What Happens When You Shift From Task to Feeling?

One athlete Gavin worked with couldn’t let go of sport. The times were dropping, the injuries were stacking up but the drive was still there. It wasn’t about medals anymore. It was about competing.

That’s what they loved. That was the feeling.

And once they named that, once they really owned it, they found the perfect next step: a high-performance sales role. Real estate. Car sales. It didn’t matter. What mattered was the spark came back.

Because now they were chasing targets, going head-to-head, feeling the buzz of performance. Different field. Same fire.

That’s career clarity for athletes; not changing who you are, but channeling it differently.

So How Do You Build Your Own Superstar CV?

Start with the version no one else will see. The one that’s raw, honest, and fully you. Here’s how:

1. Write Your Wins Without Apology

Don’t downplay. Don’t shrink. Write the things you’re proud of exactly how they felt when you achieved them. Use big words. Be dramatic. This is your highlight reel.

What moments made you feel alive? When did you feel most like yourself?

2. Circle What Still Matters Now

Take that list and ask: If I lost this skill or trait tomorrow, what would it mean to me?

That’s the gold. That’s what you carry into your next chapter; not the job, but the essence behind it.

3. Find Work That Reignites That Feeling

Whether it’s leadership, rhythm, structure, risk, or service, find roles that let you tap back into the feeling you miss most. Don't chase job titles. Chase alignment.

Ready to Get Clear On What’s Next?

You don’t need to figure it all out today.

You don’t need to know the destination. You just need to take the next right step.

And that starts by remembering who you are not just who you were.

So write your Superstar CV. Not for a hiring manager. For you. Let it remind you what’s possible when you bring all of you to the table; experience, emotion, and edge.

If you need help finding that clarity, I’ve got stories, tools (er, yes i’m modeling SuperStar CV 🙂), and a team ready to walk with you. Start with our latest 2ndwind podcast episode or explore what we do at 2ndwind.io.

Your next win might not be on the field. But it’s still yours to earn.

Let’s go!