Screenshots, Receipts, and Your Future Self
Excerpt from Talent Needs Character – Social Media and the Shadow You’re Creating
Somewhere out there, a college coach is scrolling.
It might be next month. It might be three years from now.
They watch your film. They like what they see. They think, This kid could help us.
Then they click your name and open your world.
That’s where a lot of opportunities quietly die.
Here’s the part teenagers hate hearing but need to hear:
Your social media isn’t separate from your character. It’s evidence of it.
Screenshots live longer than your season. Your posts are like tattoos your future self has to explain.
Is that fair? Not really.
Is it real? Absolutely.
Coaches look for red flags:
constant complaining about coaches or teammates
crude or degrading content
reckless partying as your main personality
political or social rants that show zero emotional control
They’re not hunting for robots. They’re hunting for patterns.
If you’re constantly broadcasting chaos, why would they invite that into their locker room?
But this isn’t just about “don’t post dumb stuff.”
It’s about aligning your online life with who you say you want to be.
You say you want to be a leader?
Leaders don’t subtweet their teammates.
You say you want to be trusted?
Trusted people don’t livestream their bad decisions.
You say you want to play at the next level?
Next-level athletes don’t make their coaches nervous every time they unlock their phone.
Try this simple test:
Scroll your last 30 posts and imagine a future coach, boss, or your own kid looking at them.
Do they see someone they’d want to bet on?
Or someone they’d put in the “too risky” pile?
If that stings, good. That means your future self is sending a little memo backwards in time asking for help.
Here’s the cool part: you can start changing the story today.
You don’t need to become a “brand.” Just be intentional:
Post about your work, not just your wins.
Shout out teammates more than you shout out yourself.
Show respect—refs, opponents, coaches.
Own your mistakes when you make them.
You’re not curating a fake life; you’re choosing not to hand your future over to your worst five minutes.
And yes, you’re allowed to be young and dumb and make mistakes.
But maybe don’t film all of them in 4K and pin them to your profile.
Your talent will get people to open your account.
Your character will decide whether they keep reading—or quietly close the tab.
