In this episode, I sit down with Dagi Kesim, founder of Gala FC Soccer Club and IDT Soccer, to dive into what it really means to build character through sports. We talk about his journey from professional soccer player to coach, his mission to help low-income kids access soccer opportunities, and why he believes we're doing our kids a disservice by protecting them from failure. This conversation goes way beyond soccer. We explore parenting, business ownership, the importance of criticism, and how sports can be a training ground for life. Dagi doesn't hold back on his opinions about participation trophies and helicopter parenting!
Key Takeaways:
• You learn nothing from winning, everything from losing - Success doesn't teach you where your weaknesses are or how to improve, but failure forces you to examine what went wrong and grow from it• The "everyone's a winner" mentality is creating fragile adults - Kids who aren't exposed to criticism, disappointment, and having to earn their success struggle when they hit real-world challenges• Supporting your kids means showing up, not making excuses - True support isn't about convenience or protecting them from every difficulty, but being present and teaching accountability• Sports are life school in disguise - The lessons learned about teamwork, resilience, handling criticism, and pushing through discomfort translate directly to success in careers and relationships• Growth mindset requires accepting you're not as good as you could be - Whether in sports, business, or life, continuous improvement means being honest about your current limitations while believing in your potential
Timestamps:
[00:04:40] - From professional soccer injury to coaching in America, starting with private lessons and working his way up through high school, college, and semi-pro levels
[00:07:00] - Creating opportunities for low-income kids regardless of background, with close to 200 kids receiving college scholarships through soccer
[00:11:00] - How being told "you don't have what it takes" by his professional soccer player father drove Dagi to prove him wrong
[00:18:10] - Why American soccer has different expectations than American football, and why Dagi believes in demanding excellence from players
[00:21:00] - How "everyone's a winner" mentality fails to prepare kids for real-world challenges and criticism
[00:28:00] - The core philosophy that losing and failure are where real growth happens
[00:35:00] - How players who get comfortable with mediocre performance stop improving
[00:43:00] - Parents who won't drive kids to games unless they're guaranteed playing time, and how this teaches the wrong lessons
[00:46:00] - Why merit-based decisions prepare kids for workplace realities
[00:59:00] - The operational challenges of running a soccer club while maintaining standards
[01:16:00] - How parents prioritizing convenience over commitment puts their children at a disadvantage
[01:24:00] - Observations about how girls tend to be more coachable and focused during development years
Referenced Links:
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