If you’re started a new job or joined a sports team or boxing club recently you are probably familiar with the ‘new guy’ syndrome( when you feel as if you do not know anything or like you’re not much help).
Where you need to earn your colleagues, boss or fellow team mates respect.
Besides earning their respect, there is also the urge to impress and show them that you’re valuable, be it at your workplace or whichever sports club you belong too.
Being the new guy comes with a lot of pressure already, and it could be easy to let that pressure weigh you down but lucky we have enlisted the help of Springboks and Natal Sharks loose forward, Willem Alberts who knows a ‘lil something about how to earn your peers respect and make your mark.
Willem, who made his debut for the Springboks in November 2010 against Wales, definitely made his mark as he came off the bench and scored a try. He went on to gain 34 caps for the Springboks and is part of the Rugby World Cup squad for 2015.
“It had always been my dream to become a Springbok, so when the opportunity came, I grabbed it. I gave my best in every training session, and I showed the experienced players how proud I felt to wear the springbok jersey.
As with anything, the key is to remain humble, because opportunities can be taken away at any moment – by injuries, by a loss of form or even by a better player. You have to remember that it’s a privilege to do what you’re doing, so always do your best, then nobody can fault you.”
Alice Paulse
