MI CAMINO.
From Football Scout to Mentor
"Success can be a wonderful thing, but if we chase after it to feel valuable and good about ourselves, then we're doing something wrong – and we'll realize it sooner or later. This can go so far that we eventually feel completely empty, are constantly frustrated and dissatisfied, and lose the joy in our greatest talents."
- Jannis
MI CAMINO IN SHORT.
Training
Psychological Systemic Coach
Chief Scout
FC Ingolstadt 04
Scout U15-U16
Real Madrid CF
Scout U14-U16
Hamburger SV
Scouting Coordinator U8-U14
SV Werder Bremen
Master
Master in Talent Identification and Development in Soccer
University of Madrid - Escuela Universitaria Real Madrid
Bachelor
Sports Science & Hispanic Studies (Spanish)
University of Oldenburg & University of Bremen
When someone asks me for directions, I usually answer like this:
"First I searched for success, then for myself. Now I help other people begin their search - and lead a more valuable, honest life."
My CV sounds pretty good at first glance: competitive athlete in childhood and adolescence, elite university in Spain, and finally scout for Real Madrid, HSV, FC Ingolstadt, and Werder Bremen. This journey was exciting, but also marked by significant performance anxiety.
Lots of talent, lots of pressure: Me as a little kid playing tennis.
Even in childhood I had learned to link my self-worth to my success: When I performed and met expectations, I felt good; when I “failed”, I almost lost my footing.
This unhealthy dynamic, which many of us are familiar with, became a major problem over time, as it robbed me of more and more joy in life and pleasure in my lifelong passion: sport.
The more responsibility I took on at work and the more successful I became, the worse it got. The question "Who am I without my success?" soon became so loud that I could no longer ignore it.
"Sooner or later, we are all forced to sit down, reflect on our lives, and ask ourselves who we are and what the meaning of our life's journey is at this moment."
- Jon Kabat-Zinn
MY LEAP INTO UNCERTAINTY
Sometimes the hardest steps are the most valuable. For me, that step was the decision to seek therapeutic help and answer the questions, "Who am I? What do I believe? What can I change to feel better?"
I developed valuable strategies for dealing with stress and gradually managed to create a healthier workday for myself. It was difficult, but it worked.
But much more happened: Gradually, my eyes opened to my own personal entanglements and entrenched ideals. For the first time, I connected with desires and needs I had always ignored. The more I discovered, the clearer it became: I need a real fresh start. A radical reorientation that allows me to lead a more authentic, meaningful life - and to help others do the same.
MY WORK AS A MENTOR
I know how valuable it is not to walk your path alone, but with people who have experienced similar things. People who listen to you, show you new perspectives, and whom you can confide in. As your mentor, I take on this role for you and give you the opportunity to, so to speak, discover your own path.
Life is never easy, but it can feel more joyful, authentic, and richer. Living boldly and listening to your heart, not fear, is a real possibility for each of us. We just need to be willing to take the first step.