Time for an ATtitude Adjustment

     There has been some great AT discussion lately.  First Mike Hopper had a great entry regarding professional attire. Josh Stone had a great entry discussing AT Salaries.  These two posts (and a few others that have been circulating) have gotten a lot of people talking and thinking, including me. There are so many issues surrounding our profession right now and we are going in so many different directions.  How can address all these things?  How can we move forward in a positive direction? We need to adjust our attitude.
     I've had a number of my students go on to pursue Athletic Training in college.  Many of whom are now colleagues, and many more who are well on their way.  Before they leave for school I give them the same speech.  I tell them you need to be #1.  You need to work harder than any other student in your program.  You need to go above and beyond what is asked of you.  Separate yourself from the pack.  Ensure that when they are discussing the best students in the program, your name is mentioned in a heartbeat.  I tell them to keep their eyes and ears open and soak in all the knowledge they can like a sponge.  I tell them to be leaders.  I tell them the more they put into it, the more they will get out of it.  That is how I was taught.  That is how I achieved any and every bit of success in my career.  I worked for it.
   That attitude should not stop at graduation.  That attitude should not stop once you become certified.  That attitude should not stop when you get that first job.  That attitude needs to continue for the length of your career.  That attitude gets results.  That attitude earns respect.  That attitude makes you indispensable.  Its not about making your athletes, parents, coaches and administrators respect the profession as a whole.  Its about those people respecting YOU the professional.  Leave them no choice but to compensate you appropriately.  Leave them no choice but to make sure you are able to have balance in your life.  Ensure that the thought of losing you and having to hire another Athletic Trainer would be horrendous, because that new person could not possibly do the amazing job you did. 
    This is not a sprint.  It is a marathon. It takes time.  It takes patience.  It takes sacrifice.  To get what you want, you must first give.  You must not expect to be "given" anything, but rather be willing to "earn" it.  Is this attitude and this mindset going to get you what you want each and every time?  Nope.  Do not accept defeat. At some point if things are not changing for the better where you are, it will be a time to move on to the next opportunity and do it all over again.  If you continue with the right attitude, you will find that opportunity where they respect you.  Where they want you to stay and are willing to work with you do make sure they don't lose you.
    No one says its going to be easy. The more of us that get this attitude, that are willing to fight for what we want, the stronger we get as a profession.  Make a decision. Do you want Athletic Training to be your JOB or your CAREER?  While we certainly need to focus on the global issues of your profession, we must first focus on us as individuals.

#AT4EVER
#AT4ALL

Todd