When you're growing up, you hear a lot of talk about the importance of being well-rounded and the idea of developing a complete human being. It's a parent's job to present you with the opportunities and then create a safe space where you feel like you can pursue those opportunities in the way you see fit without backlash. The same goes for a teacher or coach.
As an adult, the same concept remains. Your growth may not be quite as exponential, but the desire for growth in numerous areas remains. And now that you have some life in the rearview mirror, you have the added component of trying to nurture what already exists.
A job at its base level is an income source that keeps you afloat. But a job should also nurture your talents and passions, inspire you to reach the pinnacle of that discipline, challenge you physically or mentally (or both), but not to the point where it drives you away. A boss, like a parent, should present you with opportunities for growth, guidance for how you might achieve said growth, and then make it abundantly clear that you're in a safe space where you can take the tools provided and use them to shape your trajectory in the way that suits you best.
Emma Hayes creates environment for USWNT players to thrive
Having this kind of job is a nice dream, but many adults end up having to settle. For those currently vying for a spot on the USWNT however, they've been gifted the opportunity to pursue their dream job under pretty ideal circumstances.
Emma Hayes is a bit of a unicorn in the world of bosses. Her job security depends on the performance of her players, but she's correctly identified that her players won't perform at their peak unless their lives outside of game day are also fulfilling and complete.
Sophia Wilson, Mallory Swanson, and Lynn Biyendolo all chose to momentarily pause mid-career to become mothers. Lindsey Heaps chose to leave Champions League victors Lyon to come home to Colorado, while Sam Coffey heads overseas to Manchester City. All of these are career-shaping decisions, and all of them were made with the knowledge that each individual would be encouraged and supported because the decision landed them where they feel most at home, or most complete, or most valued.
The hope is that it will ultimately lead them to be the best version of themselves for the national team. And in the event that's not where their journey ends, they'll have made a decision that brought them joy and fulfillment and sent them on a path they can be proud of.
Meanwhile, Emma Hayes has released a January USWNT roster that's virtually unrecognizable as she seeks to ensure no one who's deserving gets overlooked while she sculpts a final roster that's well-rounded and full of depth. Debuting so many new players rather than nonstop honing the strengths of the players she already knows can perform is a gamble, but Hayes is a gambler with a beautiful yet realistic long-term vision, and I'd frankly be shocked if she didn't pull it off.
Emma Hayes doesn't need to go to the lengths she does to be good at her job. After all, the United States has been a powerhouse soccer nation under a multitude of coaches. But she has to go to these lengths to be the best at her job. Not only is she out to maximize the USWNT's chances of success, but she's shaping a generation of women who will eventually leave the game being proud of where they've landed as a complete human being.