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Mom, dad, I want to become a professional!

Perhaps you've never encountered this exclamation, but if it hasn't happened to you, you should be very cautious before giving any kind of response.

Fundamentally, why can enthusiasm lead us to an answer far from reality, and what your son or daughter (nephew, niece, friend, etc.) will need most is a reality map to become aware of the path that awaits them.

This awareness will allow them to decide whether to undertake with the level of commitment and consistency required to pay the entire price that their dream entails.

We'll share a couple of examples to bring us much closer to reality.

Let's start with an individual sport, golf, for example.

To provide context, an 18-hole golf course typically has an even par of 72 strokes, meaning finishing the 18 holes in 72 strokes equates to a handicap of 0, or, for example, finishing the same course with 108 strokes would correspond to a handicap of 36 (a much lower level of play).

In short, with a handicap around 0 or lower, it is considered a professional performance; anything above 0 could be considered an amateur performance.

Although there are no precise data, statistics have been conducted, and they tell us that it is estimated that only 25% of amateur practitioners can play an 18-hole course in fewer than 100 strokes. Only 10% will score below 90 strokes, and a mere 1% will score below 80 strokes; this is the group that enters professionalism.

We conclude with a team sport, soccer, for example.

According to a study conducted by UEFA in 2015, the percentage of soccer players transitioning from developmental stages to senior competitions in Europe is approximately 1%. This means that only one out of every hundred players entering the developmental stages of soccer in Europe manages to transition to professional soccer.

Moreover, the same study found that the percentage of young players successfully making the transition varies greatly by country and region. For instance, in some countries like Spain and Portugal, the percentage of players transitioning to professional soccer is higher than in other countries.

Conclusions

Before responding to your son or daughter, whether in an individual or team sport, assess your environment. If it's favourable, as in Spain and Portugal with soccer, you gain a slightly higher probability. If the environment is not favourable, you can cling to the estimated figure that only 1% makes it.

This figure is not a reason to give up if they have the qualities. This figure is the significant reason to convey the high price to pay if they attempt to achieve their dream.

If they are willing to pay the entire price, well, full speed ahead!

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