Do swimmers achieve greater career success?

Friends and family consider me the biggest fool around to get up to immerse myself in cold water at 5 am.

Originally posted by Scansy I should be clear - for me success in a career doesn't mean make lots of money and rule a large empire. Success means you do whatever you do to the best of your abilities and are among the best at it. Whether that is brain surgeon or bricklayer. Do you know the skill required or the wages paid to a brickmason? Let me tell you, it's a heck of a good career.

I apologize in advance if this seems like a stupid question - what do you mean by career success - are you talking about the swimming careers of the elite swimmers (Phelps, Beard, etc.) - or are you talking about the everyday careers (doctor, banker, contractor, etc.) of us "regular" swimmers?

Hi Paul, Good question! I'm talking about everyday careers of "regular" (Masters or adult) swimmers. Bill

I think that in order to be a swimmer you have to be organized in order to fit more on your plate. Just being a self started and going to swimming even with a career makes you successful.

OK, I would say that those who exercise regularly are generally more successful in careers. But that makes for an interesting question. Does the exercising make someone more successful? Or does exercising tend to draw a certain type of person (the "go-getter")? I suspect that the exercising tends to draw interest from that type of person. As for swimming vs. other forms of exercise - say running or weight lifting - I'm not sure that swimmers have an advantage (or disadvantage). I do know one thing, swimmers are far better looking than other athletes!:D I have no scientific evidence to back any of this up, but that has never stopped me from spouting off in the past.

George Young the first swimmer to do the Catalina Swim ended up as a railway worker. He was happy with this. Cliff Lumsden one of Canadas top marathon swimmers worked at a swimming pool, he taught swimming to little kids, he loved his career. Swimmers careers are like everyone else you find your nitch you do it nothing special and no better than anyone else. George

That's what it sounds like you're asking. If that's the question, then I'm gonna have to say no. A common trait amongst the successful people that I know is that they all exercise. But the exercise isn't the thing that has made them successful, they're hard work and dedication to their career has. Excercise is more of a form of stress relief and an escape. That said too, the majority of the successful people I know who exercise don't swim. They usually run or lift weights. I know very few people outside of Masters who actually swim. With that info then, I would have to say no, swimmers aren't more successful in their careers than other atheletes, nor are runners more successful in their careers than swimmers. The swimming, running or whatever it is that you do is just a byproduct of successful people. And I really like what geochuck said: Swimmers (runners, etc.) careers are like everyone else, you find your nitch, you do it, nothing special and no better than anyone else.

I should be clear - for me success in a career doesn't mean make lots of money and rule a large empire. Success means you do whatever you do to the best of your abilities and are among the best at it. Whether that is brain surgeon or bricklayer.

I personally did not like to work for someone who tells me what to do. I did my own thing and I am pretty succesful. I owned and operated a swim school, and made some good bucks. When I moved to western Canada my wife and I worked with children in crisis, we loved our work. Even though I am 71 now we still work about six months with kids. But in the winter I go to Mexico and run swim clinics for some begginers, some master swimmers, and some college swimmers. It is great fun and not only that I get fit myself and still earn a few bucks. Am I more succesful than any one else, I don't think so but I love my life as it is, my wife and I are still together after 47 years, now that is what I call succesful... in this day and age. George