Sometimes life seems to have a perfect path laid out for you. You know exactly where you are going and how to get there. And the, well life happens and throws us a curveball. Often we are so focused in our personal or professional lives on our “Plan A”, we’re lost when Plan A doesn’t happen. Even many companies are laser focused on their Plan ! product strategy, but haven’t considered contingency and continuity plans (like a pandemic shutting most in person activities). I thought my personal journey was all set and defined. It wasn’t until college and after graduation that I moved to a completely different path than I had ever expected.
With the death of Colt Brennan, considered one of the best quarterbacks in college football at the time, I was reminded how often our paths divert from where we think we’re going. I asked Coach Victor Nichols II to join me to talk about finding your Plan B when you only have a Plan A. Coach Vic was a highly recruited High School football player. He was going pro too, everyone said so. Until he didn’t. Now what? What do you do when your plans are now wide open and unknown?
Coach Vic found his path becoming a gifted trainer, motivational speaker, and diversity, equity, and inclusion leader at his company. After diverting from his professional sports career, Coach Vic started looking for his purpose. With his long time friend Doc (Shane Colquhoun, PhD), they started the Purpose Addict podcast to share their journey so that we can learn along with them. Their honest, open, and pragmatic approach inspires while it educated, and I highly recommend you give them a listen.
Where to watch:
- https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVcJ70vc3COPzwFneWL2kqA
- https://happs.tv/invite/@HansEckman
- https://www.facebook.com/EckmanGuides/
This week, we saw the loss of former quarterback Colt Brennan. His Plan A as a football star was locked in, right? Here are some of his records as listed on Wikipedia.
- Second all-time in most career touchdowns responsible for (146). Achieved November 23, 2007.
- NCAA record for most 400 yard games (20). Achieved in 2007.
- Tied NCAA record for most career touchdown passes by a quarterback-receiver combination (39 to Davone Bess). Achieved November 23, 2007.
- NCAA two-season record for most touchdown passes, 96 (2006–2007)
- Eighth all-time for passing efficiency (season), posting a 186.0 mark in 2006.
- NCAA record for most points responsible (for season) with 385. (2006)
- Second all-time for highest pass completion percentage (career) with 70.4%. This record was eclipsed by Dan Persa during the 2011 season.
- Fourth all-time in career touchdown passes with 131.
- Sixth all-time in total passing yards with 14,193.[26]
After having an amazing senior year, Colt’s Plan A took a huge blow after a loss to the University of Georgia Bulldogs in the 2008 Sugar Bowl. Colt went from being a potential first round draft pick to being selected in the sixth round by the Washington Redskins. He was never able to become the NFL quarterback everyone anticipated, and accounts of his life after football seem to indicate that he wasn’t able to find his next opportunity. On May 10th, 2021, Colt’s Plan A came to a final conclusion after a fatal overdose.
You might still want to put most of your focus and attention on your Plan A, but make sure you are ready if you need to find your Plans B, C, or even D.
