Pat McAfee Cannot Be Labeled

When former Indianapolis Colts punter/kicker turned radio host/media mogul Pat McAfee was a senior in high school, he secured a full scholarship to kick for Kent State. 

McAfee loved the idea of kicking footballs for free tuition at college and knew it would spare his working-class parents the burden of paying for school. McAfee had 75 colleges looking at him for soccer, but his dream was to kick at a 1A school for football. So, he found his way to a kicking competition in Florida, showcased his skills and won a full scholarship to nearby West Virginia University. McAfee understood his talents, knew what he wanted and never allowed anyone to label him. 

It’s a story we can all draw from. McAfee was never going to simply be a punter, a broadcaster, a wrestler. He was going to be all of them and establish his own identity while creating his own brand, literally, which he’s now appropriately dubbed “For the Brand.” 

Too often in life, we accept the labels that people place on us because they allow us to make sense of our lives. Labels give a false sense of security, which then allows us to enter a safe zone. If you’re labeled an effective organizer, for example, this shouldn’t mean we lack in other areas. Why do we put such a narrow identity on our talents? Why do we accept labels and not show bravery by breaking boundaries as McAfee has been doing since high school?

Author Stephen King once said, “You can, you should, and if you’re brave enough to start, you will.” 

This quote embodies McAfee’s journey. He trusted his bravery and his talents and had an insatiable curiosity to learn outside his so-called called labels. He developed a growth mindset, which then removed all the false perceptions people wanted to place on him. McAfee understood that labels are fundamentally simplistic. More than anything, he knew that betting on himself was the best wager he could make.   

Every day, we make decisions. Whether big or small, each is forcing us to bet either on or against ourselves. You bet against yourself during those moments when:

1. You want to say “no” but end up saying “yes” instead (or vice versa).

2. You decide that you don’t need to exercise today (you can always start tomorrow).

3. You decide to put off a decision because you tell yourself you need more information.

When you bet against yourself, you will always lose. Be brave like Pat and never settle for a label. 

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