Hey Reader,

Most people who want to break into football think they need full days to make progress.

They don't.

I've spoken with over 200 people trying to change careers into football. The same excuse comes up every time: "I don't have enough time."

They're waiting for two full days a week. A Sunday morning with nothing else on. A free afternoon of empty hours where they can finally sit down and build that portfolio or learn Python or send those messages.

Here's the truth: that time doesn't exist. And even if it did, you probably wouldn't use it.

The Real Problem

When you're working full time in a job you don't enjoy, the idea of career transition feels massive. It looms over you. You think it requires the kind of time commitment you gave to your degree or your last big project.

But that's not how this works.

I work full time at a football agency. I also run The Recruitment Room. I take calls with people breaking into the industry. I play pickleball. I have a family life. I still make progress on what matters.

Not because I have more hours than you. Because I use the hours I have differently.

Time Blocking: The System That Works

Here's what changed things for me: time blocking.

I put everything in a Google Calendar. Work hours. Meals. Sleep. Sport. Family time. And then I look at what's left.

You'd be surprised how much time appears when you actually map it out. Not full days. But pockets. An hour on Thursday evening. Two hours on Sunday morning. Thirty minutes before work if you're disciplined enough.

The key isn't finding time. It's protecting it.

When that block comes up, you sit down and do focused, intentional work. Not scrolling LinkedIn pretending it's networking. Not watching another tutorial you won't apply. Actual work: building something, writing something, connecting with someone.

One focused hour beats five distracted ones. Every time.

The Five Whys: Getting Clear on What Actually Matters

The other thing that's helped me recently is journaling. Specifically, understanding why I'm doing this in the first place.

Most people skip this step. They know they want to work in football, but they haven't gone deeper. And without that clarity, every hour you spend feels directionless.

Try this: write down your goal. Then ask why.

"I want to work in football analysis."

Why?

"Because I don't like my current job."

Why?

"Because it doesn't challenge me."

Why?

Keep going. Five times. By the fifth why, you'll hit something real. Something that actually drives you.

For me, that process helped me see which skills mattered, which connections were worth making, and what I could ignore. It turned vague ambition into specific action.

And when you know exactly what you're working towards, those time blocks become easier to protect. You're not just "working on football stuff." You're building a portfolio that shows clubs what you can do. You're learning a skill that solves a problem they have. You're meeting someone who can open a door.

What This Looks Like in Practice

Since coming back from a three week holiday break, I've been using this system to get back into rhythm.

Every Sunday, I review the week ahead. I block out work, family time, sport. Then I find my windows. Thursday evening. Sunday morning. Sometimes Tuesday before work if I'm feeling sharp.

During those blocks, I focus on one thing. Write a newsletter. Build a section of a project. Reach out to three people in the industry.

I don't try to do everything. I don't wait for the perfect moment. I just use what I have.

And it works. Not because I'm more disciplined than you. Because the system removes the need for constant decision-making. The time is already there. I just show up.

You Don't Need More Time

You need clearer priorities and better systems.

Most people who say they don't have time actually mean they don't have clarity. They're trying to do everything at once, and when that feels overwhelming, they do nothing.

But if you know why you're doing this - really know, five whys deep - and you block out even two hours a week to make progress, you'll move faster than 90% of people who claim they want this.

The career transition (or progression) doesn't happen in one big push. It happens in small, consistent blocks of focused work.

Map your week. Find your windows. Protect them. Show up when they arrive.

That's how you make the shift. Not by finding more time. By using what you already have.

Liam.