While most people use this time of year to gather with loved ones and express gratitude, I tend to do the opposite. This is when I become most focused and work the hardest, tapping into the competitive spirit I developed as an athlete.

From a young age, playing football, I was taught that if you weren’t practicing on Thanksgiving, your season was a failure. During college, my team spent Thanksgiving Day getting ready to play Nebraska in a high-profile game on Black Friday, with the entire nation watching. Because of this, the holiday season now sparks my competitive spirit more than any other time of year.

Although I no longer think that winning or losing a game or season determines true success, I firmly believe that competitiveness is a vital trait to nurture in young people today. Unf

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