You’ve Already Started (Even If You Didn’t Realise It)
One of the biggest roadblocks to progress isn’t the work itself—it’s the belief that you haven’t started yet. That false barrier of needing a grand beginning keeps too many people in limbo, waiting for the right time. But what if you’ve already started without even knowing it?
Think about the small things you naturally gravitate towards. For me, it was football—watching, reading, analyzing, and eventually writing about it. Without realizing it, I was already building the foundation of my career as a football lawyer long before I stepped into the industry.
I remember meeting Andrew, a partner at Sheridans, at Euston Station. He was offering me a role as a sports lawyer—but there was a catch. I had no client base. I remember the self-doubt: How am I going to convince clients I know what I’m doing? But what Andrew saw—and what I almost missed—was that I’d already started. I’d written 200+ blogs, immersed myself in football law, and built relationships across the industry. I had unknowingly laid an invisible foundation that made that career leap possible.
You might be doing the same. Maybe you spend hours watching fashion runway shows, studying film techniques, or tinkering with digital design. That’s your head start. The real challenge isn’t starting—it’s recognizing that you already have.
🎧 Watch my Build the Invisible Documentary here:
Make It Intentional
Knowing what interests you is the first step. The next step is to turn that passive curiosity into an intentional habit.
Want to be a fashion designer? Research the journeys of designers you admire. What did they study? Where did they start?
Interested in sports media? Watch interviews, follow journalists, and start forming your own takes on industry trends.
Thinking about a career in digital content? Who are the best at it? What makes their work stand out?
When David Lampitt landed his first job at the FA, it wasn’t luck—it was because he had already connected the dots. He read an article about financial corruption in football, realized his accounting background could be relevant, and sent a speculative letter to the FA. He got a polite rejection. Six months later, the FA reached out because they remembered his initiative. His knowledge-building and proactive approach had created an opportunity long before he knew it existed.
Your job is to move from consuming to documenting and applying. That’s where the BTI Journal comes in. Every day, note down three pieces of content you engage with—articles, podcasts, videos—and reflect on what they taught you. Track where your curiosity leads, and within weeks, you’ll see patterns emerge.
You’re Further Along Than You Think!
Most people underestimate their progress. If you’ve attended events, read articles, followed industry leaders, or even daydreamed about what you want, you’ve already begun laying your invisible foundation.
But now, let’s take it further.
Take Small, Consistent Actions
The key isn’t taking giant leaps—it’s showing up, consistently.
1. Set Micro-Goals – Instead of overwhelming yourself with big ambitions, break them down. Start with reading one relevant article a day (or three, if you’re really serious). Send one message a week to someone in your industry.
2. Track Your Progress – Writing things down makes them real. Use the BTI Journal to see how far you’ve come. Momentum builds when you can visualize your own growth.
3. Celebrate Small Wins – Every step forward counts. Sent an email that led to an interesting conversation? Noted a key insight from a podcast? That’s progress. Recognizing it keeps you moving.
The Habit of Showing Up
Miles Jacobson, the man behind Football Manager, didn’t map out his career with precision. He spent his redundancy money at a record shop, got a job there because of his music taste, started writing fanzines, got into music journalism, scouted bands for NME, and eventually—through a series of small, intentional steps—found himself working on one of the most successful sports video games of all time. His story wasn’t about a single, perfect plan. It was about consistently showing up, following his interests, and taking action.
You don’t need to wait for permission to start. You don’t need a perfect plan. You just need to consistently show up, pay attention, and apply what you learn.
Small steps compound over time. Before you know it, you’ll look back and realize you weren’t just starting—you were building something all along.
So, let’s get going.
Next Steps
If you want to get serious about this, you can join the waiting list for the Build The Invisible Course here.
You can also download a month’s worth of the BTI Journal here and start tracking your progress.
To Finish…
Here’s a Build The Invisible themed talk I gave on How To Get a Job in the Sports Industry
I have given career advice to thousands of aspiring sports and entertainment industry executives.
I’ve been asked what makes you stand out? How do you impress when you don’t have anything particularly special to say? And why does no one respond to your emails?
I have distilled everything I know into Build the Invisible, an accessible guide that outlines my philosophy and shows how investing in yourself – building your invisible foundations – leads to a successful and fulfilling career.
I interviewed over 40 high-achieving business people about how they landed their current positions. And blending their experiences with my own insights, I created a roadmap that will get you to where you want to be.