IN THE MAKING SINCE 1980
“We don’t rise to the level of our expectations, we fall to the level of our training” — Archilochus, Greek lyric poet.
Life has a funny way of repeating itself. I don’t know if I’m the only one who believes in a higher force, but I believe that life is constantly preparing us ready for what’s next.
Over the past seven months I’ve put my heart and soul into launching my new website, FabioTambosi.com. I hope you’ve taken some time to check it out already, but if not, I hope this story helps shed some light on why I wanted to create this platform and you’ll feel inspired to check it out — I’m always looking for feedback! ;)
CHILDHOOD
I grew up in Brazil, and like many other South American countries, football (or soccer, to many of you) was all I ever want to do in my childhood. I played often and dreamt of playing in the World Cup one day. At the age of 13, I was good enough to join Nacional Atlético Clube youth academy. By the time I was 15 I felt confident in my skills and felt this was my calling and I was on the path to play for the Brazil national team, but a new coach came into the team I was playing for and moved me to a new position. By changing positions I had to learn new skills and strategies and approach the game from a new perspective.
At first, I thought it worked out well because I not only played the first three games of the season, but I was in the starting eleven. Unfortunately, after those three games, the coach released me from the club. The way the youth league worked was, if you started three or more games for a team in the season, you were forced to take six months off before joining another. No fun for a 14-year-old.
In hindsight, I like to look at this as honoring my first non-compete agreement.
During those six months I worked my teenage butt off. I trained harder than ever before, worked on my technique, practiced, practiced and studied the game, did everything I could to use that time off to my advantage. The next season I was picked up by Portuguesa de Desportos, one of the top teams in the Brazilian Series A. With Portuguesa I had two of the best years of my life and was closer than ever of becoming a professional player.
Can you imagine if I had gotten discouraged after that coach released me? It would have set me on a completely different path.
What I’ve always loved about football is it’s a team sport. It is also a game of creativity and unpredictability, you go into every game with a plan. You have a strategy, you practice that plan, and then the game starts. If you cannot read plays well, react quickly — I’m talking within milliseconds — and anticipate what the next play will be, then you’re off to a long 90 minutes ahead of you.
My former life as a soccer player may be over, but it’s still engrained in my DNA. I thrive creating and leading groups of high-performing people and believe people are at their best when working together, towards a common goal.
FATHERHOOD
Three years ago I was gifted with the birth of my daughter, Sara Tambosi, and becoming a father has been a life defining journey for me. Not only did it change my life in obvious ways and give me new meaning in life, but it confirmed for me thoughts I had been having for a long time; I want to help make the world a better place — for her and future generations. I need to hold myself accountable for creating a positive change in the world, making it a better place.
Also, as any parent can understand, I’m worried about the future for her. The world is changing in unpredictable ways and I want her to experience as much positivity and creativity as possible.
About a year ago I decided I was ready for the next stage of my life, career-wise. I knew I believed in this group-mindset ideology, but I wasn’t expressing and sharing it in the ways that I wanted to.
Since then, I decided to leave my previous job, but in doing so, I’m now honoring my second non-compete, for the second time, before getting started with adidas in October.
Like before, I’m using this year “off” as an opportunity to become a better leader, marketer and person.
Although the idea of vacation sounds nice (and I’m doing my best to squeeze some of that in), my wife and I had our three weeks getaway in Asia. I’m focusing on research, launching my website, writing a book, helping my friends grow their businesses, becoming a Squared alumni, and traveling the world staying connected with youth and teaching classes at my alma mater, Clemson University.
I’m passionate about all the projects I’m currently involved with, but my website has been an important focus for me. I really want to create not just a website, but a platform — a destination where people can go and find the most up-to-date case studies, blogs about Creative Leadership — and how the two go hand-in-hand.
CREATIVITY
I speak a lot about creativity and this is because I’m passionate about it. Someone recently asked me how I define creativity since it can be seen as such a broad term.
The reason I’m passionate about creativity is because it can be applied to all facets of life and business.
Creativity is everywhere, we just need the right culture to unleash it into the world.
It’s a weapon of transformation that allows room for passion, fearlessness and empowerment. It’s fun and has no barriers or boundaries. It lives everywhere — but when it comes to utilizing it, we just need to nurture the right culture to unleash it into the world.
When it comes to creativity and work, the leadership mindset I believe unleashes creativity the best is Pack Leadership.
OVER TO YOU
If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that life prepares you for what’s next and the lessons are going to come when you least expect them.
What have been your life’s defining moments? How have you leveraged them? What are the big lessons you took from each of those?
#creativeleadership #packleadership
ABOUT ME
I’m a modern marketer building and growing brands in today’s fast-changing digital landscape. My leadership and ability to define clarity in chaos are rooted in the teamwork, discipline, and strategic thinking I experienced as a soccer player throughout my youth in Brazil and as a Division-I student-athlete at Clemson University.
Learn more about how we can create the next generation of leaders here, connect with me on Linked In or follow me on Twitter!
