Introduction

Waking up at 9AM in the morning soon became a daily routine for Lisa.  It doesn't seem early at all for the average working person.  However, being a professional softball player of National Pro Fastpitch means that you usually wake up at noon, eat lunch, go to the gym, play a few video games, eat again, head to the field for batting practice at 5PM, and game time is at 7PM sharp.  A good night was defined by a win, a short post-game autograph session, a late team dinner, all pushing bedtime back to roughly 2AM.  A simple routine Lisa had successfully followed in the past four seasons, however this year seemed different.

On a daily basis, Lisa felt the need to request early morning practice with her coaches, beginning at 10AM.  In the past, the concept was simple: practice makes perfect.  So if you’re feeling rusty in your game, head back to the field for extra ground balls and extra swings until you’ve perfected each skill.  This preparation always worked well for Lisa during game time.  However, this year the system was failing.  The countdown from 11AM to 7PM transformed from a leisure day, into a minute by minute struggle to maintain the self-confidence needed for game time. 

Prior to arriving Day 1 of her fifth NPF Spring Training in Lowell, Massachusetts, Lisa felt something different about herself as an athlete.  After witnessing a four year lull in ticket sales amongst most of the six teams in the league, Lisa knew she needed to do more than simply play the game on the field.  Aside from taking online Sports Management classes at the George Washington University, while playing in a professional season, this summer Lisa knew she needed to do more.  As the season started up, Lisa began marketing her teammates and helping them to arrange softball lessons with fans in attendance at games.  She felt the need to apply her growing knowledge from her classes straight into the business operations of the professional team she played for.  Unfortunately for Lisa, doing a little too much all at once seemed to cause an unexpected athletic downfall.  She noticed that her cockiness on the field had vanished and it was reflecting in her play.  All of the sudden, game time changed from the most exciting time in her day into a constant stress approaching.  Afraid that overloading her schedule was the root of her less than satisfactory play, Lisa decided to focus on one thing: playing softball.  Consequently, she failed a class for the first time in her life.  Her time and focus was now dedicated to getting as much extra practice on the field as possible.  

In the back of her head Lisa wondered if extra practice wasn’t what she needed.  Possibly she needed to simply realize it was time to walk away from being the athlete she always was in order to evolve into a different role that could help the league on a greater scale. 

Background with "Aha" Moment

When it came to knowing what she wanted to do in life, Lisa was a late bloomer.  She earned a full athletic scholarship to the University of California, Berkeley as a member of the softball team.  For Lisa, college life was more about growing up and discovering herself more than focusing on a certain academic interest.  After receiving her Bachelor's in American Studies, Lisa left undergrad still uncertain on what she wanted to do for a living as softball had ended.  During this next stage of her life, Lisa decided to move to New York City to satisfy a curiosity she always had for the East Coast.

Fortunately, a professional fastpitch softball league called National Pro Fastpitch prepared to emerge in 2003.  Lisa was asked to represent the league in a nationwide promotional tour in conjunction with Major League Baseball.  After a summer of networking, Lisa was hired by the New York, New Jersey Juggernaut to work in the front office in sponsorship and marketing while playing for the National Championship NPF team in the summer months. 

The NPF became Lisa's passion.  Not only could she compete professionally on the field, she could also help her team in development and business operations.  Her "Aha" moment came after her second season when she decided to begin her own fastpitch instructional clinics business.  Once Lisa realized she could work for herself, she witnessed herself working harder than ever before.  An untapped self-motivation was discovered as she worked 6 days a week, constantly building her business to reach more clients who also became her fans. 

Professional Challenge

After running her own fastpitch softball instructional clinics business in the Boston area for 7 months, Lisa realized that she never had an unpleasant experience at work.  Every customer was thrilled to learn from a professional athlete and walked away satisfied by how their softball skills improved.  When Lisa's business partners suggested that her to open her own instructional facility, she realized that that type of work was not what she wanted to ultimately do with her life.  Although she enjoyed developing her own business, she wanted to reach more people in different parts of the world than those that came to the Boston area for softball lessons.

It was at this time in her life, Lisa realized that she wanted to further her education.  By the end of her next summer playing season, she landed a job as the assistant softball coach at George Washington University.  Her new job provided excellent work experience while also offering tuition remission for her Master's program in Sports Management. 

Once settled in her new job and grad school classes in Washington, DC, Lisa's professional challenge became the task of balancing a full time job with school.  As Lisa is currently in her final semester of grad school, she sees the light at the end of the tunnel.  Come May 2009, Lisa will have the opportunity to pursue her next venture.

Personal Challenge

Lisa is currently 30 years old.  As she always enjoyed having the opportunity to compete as a professional athlete, she often felt the pressures of "growing up."  There were times when she would think of the importance of making more money than what the average pro softball player in America could earn.  As she returned to play in her fifth season, she also saw the need for fan base expansion and increased sponsorship sales throughout the NPF.  These were all things Lisa had previous success in achieving while working for the Juggernaut. 

Somewhere along the way, Lisa realized that she was evolving into a different spirit.  She no longer was satisfied with wins, loses, and championships, but eager to expand business accounts for the NPF.  The shift in her passion from a tenacious athlete to an ambitious businesswoman had a price.  In her fifth season of competition, she realized that being an athlete was no longer how she felt comfortable in her own skin.  Suddenly the sport became hard.  What used to feel natural and easy became a task that took tremendous effort to maintain composure.  Lisa felt like she was performing like an average athlete, a standard that was difficult to accept.  It wasn't until this moment when Lisa realized how difficult the game of fastpitch softball truly was.  Although she was personally disappointed in her athletic ability, she was able to walk away knowing that she gave it her all.  Inside she knew it would have to hurt that bad for her to ever let it go.

Lisa was recently invited to return to her professional team, the New England Riptide for the 2009 summer season.  With pride, she officially announced her retirement.  Now is the time to further herself in the world of sports management.  She also wants to design a career that allows her to travel to other parts of the world.  While entering her last semester of grad school and college coaching, Lisa is also interning for the NPF.  Although she will miss playing professional fastpitch softball and all of the people who represent the NPF, Lisa knows that it has to end, to begin.