A: First, it is essential to take your goal and assess, is it specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, and time-bound. So, what is the goal you want to accomplish; make it short and concise. Then, how will you measure it? Is it completing a course, developing a content piece, creating a presentation, etc.? You need to ask yourself, when will you know that you have accomplished the goal?

It’s also important to identify if your goal is achievable and realistic. Can you actually accomplish the goal with the time, resources, experience, expertise, money, etc. that you have? If there is a question mark in your head and you are unsure, re-visit the goal and tweak it.

Finally, break it down into action steps and create a timeline for completion. Not JUST an end date, but an actual timeline of the steps you will take to get to the end date. What will you accomplish when? What do you need to get the task done? How much time do you need to set aside? Is there room for error and adjustment or is it a hard deadline?

One of the biggest mistakes I see professionals make is they say, “I want to do a challenge” or “I’m going to create a course”, and then they are paralyzed because that goal is big and it needs to be broken down into manageable and actionable steps to actually make it happen. Analyzing your goal through a SMART lens will help you take the necessary steps (incrementally) to accomplish your goal.

A: To optimize time management skills and prioritize tasks effectively in a fast-paced environment, it is essential to implement some strategies that you live by. Many times this means doing the same boring, seemingly insignificant thing consistently. It’s known as the Compound Effect. If you set up strategies to succeed and repeat them over and over, eventually you accomplish what you set out to do.

• Set Clear Goals: Define specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART) goals. This provides a clear direction and purpose for your tasks.
• Prioritize Tasks: Use techniques like the Eisenhower Matrix to categorize tasks based on urgency and importance. Focus on high-priority tasks that align with your goals.
• Create a To-Do List: Make a daily or weekly to-do list to outline tasks and deadlines. Break down larger tasks into smaller, manageable steps.
• Time Blocking: Allocate specific time blocks for different types of tasks. This helps prevent multitasking and allows for deep focus on one task at a time.
• Limit Distractions: Identify and minimize potential distractions. Turn off unnecessary notifications, close irrelevant tabs, and create a dedicated workspace to enhance concentration.
• Batch Similar Tasks: Group similar tasks together and tackle them during specific time slots. This minimizes context-switching and improves efficiency.
• Use Productivity Tools: Leverage productivity tools such as task management apps, calendars, and project management software to stay organized and track progress.
• Delegate When Possible: Recognize tasks that can be delegated to others. Delegating can free up your time to focus on high-priority responsibilities. Even if you have to put the finishing touches on a project, 80% done is 100% awesome and can save you a lot of time.
• Regularly Review and Adjust: Periodically review your goals and tasks. Adjust your plan based on changing priorities, deadlines, or unexpected events.
• Learn to Say No: Understand your limits and be selective about taking on additional tasks. Politely decline tasks that don't align with your current priorities.

A: It takes effort. Networking, connecting with the right people and organizations, acquiring new or improving upon skills is an on-going process. To keep growing, you always have to be plowing, tilling, sowing new seeds into the ground of career opportunities. Eighteen years into being a sports dietitian, and I still do this every day.

Here are 10 practical ways you can get going:

1. Stay Informed on Industry Trends:
• Subscribe to reputable nutrition and sports nutrition journals, magazines, newsletters, and online publications.
• Follow industry influencers, organizations, and associations on social media platforms.
• Attend conferences, webinars, and workshops.
2. Pursue Further Education:
• Enroll in relevant courses, workshops, or certifications to acquire new skills and knowledge.
• Consider pursuing advanced degrees or specialized certifications in sports nutrition or related fields.
• Get involved in some type of personal development program to foster continuous learning.
3. Networking:
• Attend industry conferences, seminars, and networking events to connect with professionals in the field.
• Join online forums, social media groups, and professional associations to engage in discussions and build a network.
• Connect with people on LinkedIn.
4. Mentorship:
• Seek mentorship from experienced professionals in the nutrition and sports nutrition fields.
• Offer your expertise to mentor others, fostering a mutually beneficial relationship.
• If you have trouble finding a mentor, look in the organizations you are involved in or use the Academy’s Find An Expert button on eatrightpro.org to locate registered dietitians in your area.
5. Participate in Research:
• Contribute to research projects or collaborate with researchers in the nutrition and sports nutrition domains.
• Stay abreast of the latest research findings to apply evidence-based practices in your career.
6. Utilize Technology:
• Embrace technology tools and apps relevant to nutrition and sports nutrition for tracking trends and staying organized.
• Explore online courses and virtual conferences for flexible learning opportunities.
7. Engage in Continuous Learning:
• Cultivate a mindset of continuous learning and be open to exploring new areas within the nutrition field.
• Set aside time regularly for self-directed study and exploration of emerging topics.
8. Build a Professional Portfolio:
• Showcase your expertise through a well-crafted professional portfolio that highlights your skills, achievements, and contributions.
• Consider creating a personal blog or contributing articles to industry publications.
9. Collaborate with Peers:
• Collaborate on projects with colleagues and peers to gain different perspectives and share knowledge.
• Participate in collaborative research or community outreach initiatives.
10. Stay Healthily Curious:
• Stay curious about advancements in the field and be proactive in seeking out new opportunities for learning.
• Embrace challenges as opportunities for growth and development.

A: Continue to acquire new skills and improve the ones you have. You can always get better. Enrolling in mastermind or group courses that have an education, practical application, and community component can be really helpful because you can learn and discuss in a variety of ways.

If you are not a CSSD (Certified Specialist in Sports Dietetics), I would encourage you to start accumulating the hours to take the exam. It requires 2,000 practicing hours the first time and 1,500 hours every 5 years. If you are wondering what counts, check out the CSSD Guide I created.

Many sports dietitians offer courses and masterminds. In my business, we offer a mastermind and on demand course, The Sports Nutrition Playbook for Professionals, designed to help registered dietitians become sports dietitians, sharpen their skills, as well as improve their business acumen. We have a specific sports nutrition business course as well for those who want to start a side hustle or business. Other sports dietitians like Kelly Jones and Angie Asche also offer courses like these. No matter whose course you take, the key is to keep learning, growing, and getting smarter no matter how old you are in the profession.

A: Registered dietitians who want to specialize in sports nutrition, but have not previously worked in the field often face several skill and knowledge gaps. 

1. Understanding Sports-Specific Nutritional Needs: Many dietitians may lack experience in tailoring nutrition plans to the unique demands of different sports, including endurance vs. power sports, weight-class sports, and team vs. individual sports. Knowledge of nutrient timing, macronutrient requirements, and hydration strategies specific to various athletic activities is crucial.
• What can you do to fill the gap? Take a mastermind or continuing education course to learn the specifics of sports nutrition as it relates to various sports. This is necessary for understanding how to tailor nutrition for different types of athletes, even those in different positions on the same team. If you have the ability to shadow a sports dietitian, or do an internship of any type, do it! This can help you apply what you have learned.
2. Nutrition Periodization: Sports dietitians need to know how to periodize nutrition based on training cycles (off-season, in-season, competition phase, etc.). Dietitians without sports experience may be unfamiliar with how to adjust calorie, macronutrient, and micronutrient intake based on different training intensities and goals throughout the year.
• What can you do to fill the gap? Learn about the sport you want to work in. Understanding the season, off-season, travel, training volumes across a year, etc. are very important for understanding how to provide proper nutrition recommendations for athletes. The more you know about a sport, the more you can adjust for varying needs and obstacles when it comes to fueling.
3. Team Collaboration and Communication: Sports dietitians often work as part of a multidisciplinary team that includes coaches, athletic trainers, strength coaches, and medical staff. Newcomers may lack experience in effectively communicating nutrition strategies within this context and collaborating to support athletes holistically.
• What can you do to fill the gap? Take a communications course! Communicating in sports is different than any other environment there is, trust me. You need a layer of thick skin. Sports are a fast-paced environment and you are often expected to figure stuff out before asked. Oftentimes, details are limited and pressure is high, and learning how to be a confident communicator in those types of scenarios is key for success. Learning to communicate with those who have different communication styles than yourself is also necessary for communication and collaboration success.
4. Cultural Competence in Sports Settings: Working with athletes from diverse cultural and socio-economic backgrounds can present challenges. Understanding how cultural beliefs, food access, and preferences influence nutrition and performance is essential, especially in team environments with diverse athletes.
• What can you do to fill the gap? Taking time to learn about the various cultures that might exist on a team, and increase your cultural competence, is key. It’s important to learn how to properly communicate with those from different cultures than yours, what foods are most prominent in their eating pattern, and what obstacles there might be amidst feeding the team at large. 
5. Real-World Application: Practical experience in implementing nutrition plans with athletes, including managing fueling logistics (e.g., travel, training camps), food availability in sports settings, and food safety during competitions, is often a gap. Dietitians may be skilled in clinical or community settings but need to adjust their knowledge to the fast-paced and variable nature of sports nutrition.
• What can you do to fill the gap? Get as much experience as you can! Ask questions, interview and shadow sports dietitians, volunteer to help a sports dietitian doing a job you want, etc. to learn how it all works in practice. How it works in theory is usually not how it plays out, and the more real life exposure you can get to that, the better you will do working in the industry.

Bridging these gaps typically requires additional knowledge and learning, hands-on experience, and going above and beyond to learn the nature and culture of the sport(s) you hope to work with as a sports dietitian.

A: The reality is learning everything on your own just doesn’t offer the same level of knowledge and understanding as learning from a professional with experience in the industry, and within a group in which to mastermind. A mastermind can help accelerate your opportunities in key ways:

1. Focused, Real-World Learning: Online courses and masterminds often focus on practical, real-world applications of sports nutrition. Instead of generalized information, or just the science side of sports nutrition, they provide targeted content designed to help dietitians excel in the sports field. This specialized knowledge can be more impactful than traditional continuing education, which may cover broader or outdated topics. Plus, learning the science in the context of sports is key for understanding the application of it.
2. Networking Opportunities: Masterminds connect dietitians with like-minded professionals, industry experts, and potential mentors. These connections can lead to job opportunities, collaborations, and new business ventures in sports nutrition, offering a networking edge that traditional CEUs may lack.
3. Accountability and Support: Mastermind groups often include a level of accountability and support from peers and instructors, which can help dietitians stay on track and implement what they learn more effectively. This added structure accelerates progress compared to self-paced CEUs that lack interactive support. Plus, there is value in learning from other dietitians’ knowledge, perspective on the content, and experiences.
4. Access to Industry Leaders: Many online courses and masterminds are led by experts with successful careers in sports nutrition. Learning directly from industry leaders can provide cutting-edge insights, tips, and strategies that dietitians may not encounter in more traditional educational settings.
5. Hands-On, Personalized Guidance: Mastermind programs often involve coaching, feedback, and direct application of strategies, making the learning experience more personalized. This hands-on approach helps dietitians address specific challenges, leading to faster growth and skill development.

By offering specialized content, networking, mentorship, and actionable strategies, online courses and masterminds can fast-track a dietitian's career in sports nutrition, making them more competitive and knowledgeable in the field than traditional continuing education methods.