Today we’d like to introduce you to Sean Afkhaminia.
Hi Sean, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
It always starts with a dream, and I think this is true for anyone. For me, the dream was always to play at the highest level. The game itself came very naturally to me and I also worked hard to be better, but I had no idea how to train or what doors to knock on because I didn’t have anyone to show me the way. Then as I went along, I spent time observing and picking up on specific habits and tendencies from other great players that I played with or against. This curiosity just led me down a path of self-discovery and self-development that helped take my game to another level. Some injuries held me back pretty much from age 18 on, and when I was younger I still didn’t understand how to really market myself as a player to get to the next level, so I began to change my focus more towards training, coaching, and building my business in my early 20s. Closed doors and rejections do not determine your fate, they simply redirect your course. When I made that realization, it was obvious which career made more sense to pursue. I believe this is what I’m meant to do — just to be a spark for anyone I can reach, and be for them what I never had. Through that, I am creating the reality that I’ve always dreamed of. My life is built around the one thing that brings me the most joy and fulfillment. Now, I have the opportunity to energize an entire generation of youth talent and an ever-expanding network of Footy Factory trainers everywhere.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
The enemy of development is the fear of pain. You have to be willing to suffer at times. There is beauty in the struggle because you have to learn to move through those moments with enthusiasm if you want to come out better for it. My path has been difficult, but no more or less than any other person who has achieved anything. We all have different experiences that shape our lives and it’s our responsibility to deal with them and make the most of our circumstances. It’s only about how you respond. Through the pandemic, we saw how that single trait visibly separated high achievers from the rest. Some people were broken and defeated by the situation, and others saw opportunity and adapted to the moment. The pandemic took Footy Factory in a new direction and our brand presence grew stronger than ever during that time. We’ve since developed an innovative business model that is more scalable, profitable, and will allow us to impact many more players, trainers, coaches, parents, etc. along the way.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Footy Factory?
Footy Factory is a network of player development training specialists, currently serving soccer athletes in Dallas/Fort Worth and San Francisco. We have trainers of various levels available by appointment for Private or Small Group Training at a time and location convenient for their clients. Each trainer is vetted during the hiring process to ensure that their values and ideals align with that of the organization. Footy Factory facilitates each trainer’s personal and professional development by offering extensive continued education courses and opportunities for advancement along a five-tiered structure. The long-term vision for Footy Factory is to have a training presence in major markets across the world, license out our trainer education program to the general public, continue to grow our online marketing efforts, and ultimately build a globally-recognized brand.
The crisis has affected us all in different ways. How has it affected you and any important lessons or epiphanies you can share with us?
Adapt. Change. Grow. That’s it! Those that understand these principles will always win in the end.
Pricing:
- Private Training (1-2 players) | $50-100/hr
- Small Group Training (3-6 players) | $75-150/hr
Contact Info:
- Email: info@footyfactory.us
- Website: www.footyfactory.us
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/footyfactory/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/footyfactorydallas
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/footyfactory
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/FootyFactory
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/footy-factory-dallas
- Other: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/footypod/id1506645237
Image Credits
Peter Nieves
