1. What I learned in business from playing sports in college.

I played volleyball at USC. Not exactly the big time - but a fun time and the top of the mountain (at the time) for a small sport.*

What was it like?

I graduated high school in June. In July, I got a list of classes for the upcoming semester. As an athlete, I got to register first! Seems like a bonus, yes?

No. It's for a reason. Practice was from 2-6 pm each day with occasional weight training, which would go until 7. Be there, dressed and ready, at 1:45. So I had to cross off 60% of the available classes.

My day was simple during my freshman year:

• 8 am to 1 pm: To take a full load, I'd have classes until 1 pm every day. That left me 45 minutes to eat lunch, get to the locker room, get dressed, get taped, and get to practice.
• 2 pm to 6 pm: Practice. Competing hard with the best in the country to try and get on the court.
• 6 pm Shower up, change, get to the cafeteria, and eat dinner.
• 7 pm-9 pm: Mandatory study hours. Each athlete had to do ten supervised hours each week. If we wanted free time on the weekends, we had to get it done during the week
• 9 pm: Back to the dorm for the first time since 8 am - if only just to drop off a backpack.

That's 13 hours. If we had a group project with non-athletes, this was the only time we could meet - and they weren't keen on it as it was party time for most.

Every. Single. Day. There were no days off. The football player’s schedule was worse.

Ten players were in my freshman class - ranked second in the country. One of them played all four years at USC. Four played for the USA and one, who didn’t finish, was an All-American. 

What I learned from playing sports in college:

1. Hire college athletes. Having the physical ability to play sports has nearly zero to do with succeeding in most workplaces. Getting buckets on the hardwood or running fast won't help someone sell more insurance or write better code. But the discipline to get good grades while playing a college sport? That's miles ahead of most. The same goes for those who held down a job and got good marks in school.
2. There's always someone trying to take my spot. The sooner we learn how to use that competition and fear, the better. I played a lot and even started a few times as a true freshman. The next year, the #1 recruit at the position chose USC. And then again the next. That's life. College athletes know that better than most.
3. You better love what you do. I only played for two years at USC. When I got there, I loved volleyball. I played year-round and spent the summer after high school playing for Team USA. The following summer, I was burned out and, though selected to the U20 USA National Team, I declined and went home to Cupertino. One year later, I was done with the game - even though I started 10 of my last 11 matches and finished the 11th. My career path hasn't been much different. The more I've risen, the less balance there is. I learned early, I needed to love what I do. And I'm so grateful that I do.
4. Shortcuts only hurt me. Nobody else. The cheating at USC was rampant. Thanks to friends on the football team, I got copies of tests in advance, had tutors try to do my homework for me, and even had my midterm essay swapped out with the starting running backs. I played volleyball. I needed to get an education. There were so many chances to take shortcuts. I learned not to
5. Never underestimate what I’m capable of. Volleyball is a spring sport, so the first practices are in small groups. I was paired with a setter, Caleb, and a fifth-year senior, Trent, who played my position. He absolutely humiliated me. As one-sided a beating as one could endure. I called my dad after practice near tears to tell him I couldn’t do this. The game is so much faster so much higher off the ground. He reassured me that they wouldn’t have brought me there if they didn’t think I could do it. Stick with it. 
   
   I was seventh out of seven on the middle blocker depth chart at our first full-squad practice. I barely got to play. Only the top two started. 
   
   I started my first match four months later. That felt like an impossible outcome after that first small group practice. 
6. A bonus non-work related one: Share this experience with the overeager youth sports parents. Too many push their kids toward this life without knowing what it really is. The glitz is nice, but there is a LOT of grit behind it. 

College sports aren't for everyone. It turns out they weren't really for me - though I had some great times and learned many life lessons.

Go Trojans =)