First—Understand the Power of Your Story

As an athlete, you’ve taken an unconventional path. Most people go to school, then University, then get a job.
You? You’ve been training. Travelling. Competing. Winning. Losing. Growing at a very, very elite level.
You’ve stepped into arenas, pushed your limits, and lived a life most people only dream about.

At the same time, you might have been studying, working part time or you're a full time athlete - regardless, less than 1% of the population has done what you've done.

You’re interesting.
Your story is engaging. It’s different. It makes people curious.

Never forget that.



CEOs Love Athletes — Use That To Your Advantage

Here’s something most people won’t tell you:
A huge number of CEOs, MDs, and C-suite leaders once dreamed of being professional athletes.

Some of them tried and failed.
So when you show up and you’ve actually done it… there’s a natural respect. Sometimes even a little jealousy.

Even if they weren’t athletes, most high-level businesspeople deeply admire what it takes to succeed in sport:

• The discipline
• The pressure
• The grit
• The sacrifice

That means: when you sell to these people, you’ve got an edge.

But you need to use it right. Be subtle. Be strategic.



Here’s How to Slide It In (Without Sounding Full of Yourself)

Let’s say you’re in a first meeting with a potential client.

You’re introducing yourself, setting the tone.

Set a clear agenda like this:

“Thanks for taking the time to meet with me. I know your time’s valuable, so I appreciate it.
To keep things on track and make this meeting productive, here’s what I suggest:

1. I’ll give you a quick rundown of our product/service.
2. I’ll give you a 30-second intro on who I am and how I work.
3. Then I’d love to learn more about your business and see if there’s a fit.”

Now—Point 2 is your moment.

“As for me, in my previous life I was a professional athlete for X years. So when I say I’m competitive, I mean it.
If we end up working together, I’ll fight tooth and nail to make sure you get the best service in the market.”

That’s it. Clean, confident, relevant.

What happens next?
Nine times out of ten, the client will lean in:

“Oh really? What sport? Where’d you play? What was that like?”

Now they’re engaged.
And without even realising it, you’re winning them over. You’ve built credibility, intrigue, and trust. And you’ve done it all without sounding arrogant.



A Few More Ways to Subtly Work In Your Story

Here are a few off-the-cuff situations where you can drop the athlete card naturally:

1. When soft skills come up:

Client says: “Discipline is a big thing for us.”
You say:
“Totally. When I played PROFESSIONAL rugby, that was actually a core team value. It wasn’t just about showing up—it was about being switched on every rep. Same mindset I bring within our team.

2. When they ask or talk about dealing with pressure or competition:

“Honestly, I thrive under pressure. In PRO sport, I was used to performing in front of thousands, cameras rolling, everything on the line. I try to bring that energy into my work—preparation, execution, results.”

3. When they talk about high standards or leadership:

“In my last season as team captain, we had a saying: raise the standard, then hold the line. I carry that into every team I’m part of today.”

This isn’t bragging.
This is storytelling with purpose.
You’re building connection and making the intangible tangible.

There's 100s other examples on how you can slide your story in, just keep an eye out for it and be aware of it. Remember - Never forget you were a pro athlete or student-athlete. It's a huge advantage in business. Be proud of it. Use it! Milk it! ;)

Prospecting? Here’s How to Use It on LinkedIn

When prospecting new clients on LinkedIn, check their profile:

• Look in the About, Education, or Experience sections
• See if they mention playing sport — even high school, college, or semi-pro

If you see something, reach out with:

“Great to see another athlete crushing it in business. Are you still involved in [insert sport] these days?”

That’s it.
Short, sharp, personal. They’ll likely click your profile, see you were an athlete too, and boom—you’ve got rapport.

You might have a few messages of back-and-forth about sport…
Then transition to business.
No hard pitch. Just warm it up and move to a meeting naturally.



One Last Thing: It’ll Feel Weird At First — Do It Anyway

If you’re new to sales, you might feel a little awkward sharing your story.
You might think, “Am I bragging? Is this lame?”

Here’s the truth: It’s not.

You’re not doing it to show off. You’re doing it to build trust.
You’re showing people who you are and why you’re different.

Trust me:
This is one of the easiest 1% edge moves you can make in sales.
And it could be the difference between being just another rep… or a top earner hitting high 6-figures and beyond.

Your athlete story isn’t something to hide. It’s your advantage. Use it in your meetings.
Use it in your prospecting. Use it on LinkedIn. Use it to build trust and open doors.

Subtle, strategic, and relevant.
That’s how you win.

For personalized help on how to use your athlete story as an advantage in business, email us at info@athlete2business.com.au