IR Day 18 - Part 5

“OK,” you say, taking a long and deep breath.

The waitress appears with your espresso. You down it like a shot of tequila, then take a cold gulp of sweet tea. Michelle knows you well.

“OK,” you repeat. “I’m listening.”

“It’s not just about FUTA, Riley. The offseason obligations are too much for you to go back to school the way you were probably planning to. You can keep taking classes, but you’ll have to fit it in around your FUTA business. FUTA is greenlit for two official, big seasons. You only have to commit to one for the moment.”

“Will the next season be the same as this?” you ask.

“No. They might still use Annette’s property for it, but it will look completely different. And because they haven’t hashed out all the details, there’s more money in it for you now. They know that they have to pay you more to go in blind.”

“But it’s just working for the summer?” you ask.

“No. You’ll be in training in the fall and the spring. They give you some time off for the holidays, but otherwise, you’ll have a contractual obligation to be training with your team. Almost like an Olympian,” she says.

“What’s up with that? I thought it wasn’t even about the soccer,” you say.

“It’s not. But someone likes the idea of FUTA athletes at the Olympics. They want an international audience on this. It’s why Annette went to the trouble to lure girls like your girlfriend from all over the world,” Michelle says. “Remember, Riley. Soccer is the world’s sport. If we want to impress those serious soccer fans, our game has to be on point. The soccer’s got to measure up. Annette wants FUTA athletes on the U.S. team. She wants them at the Olympics. A pro soccer league comes along now and then and tries to make it work in the U.S., but it never sticks. I think, and I’m just guessing, that might be part of Annette’s long game. When you start a new league, you start the league and then search for the fans. With FUTA, she’ll already have the fans.”

Your head spins. It’s a lot. Michelle can see that you’re struggling.

“Bottom line, Riley, it’s a big ask with big rewards.”

OK, that much you get.

“Well, what do you think I should do?” you ask, hoping to buy time.

“I’d commit in a heartbeat. You’re handling the pressure well and it’ll only get easier. The only reason to say no would be if you were miserable, and you’re not.” Michelle shrugs. “This is an incredible opportunity. Just what you’re earning for this summer is enough to give you a boost in life, but a couple years of this and you’d never have to worry again.”

“I’m not really thinking about getting rich,” you say uncertainly.

“That’s because you’re new to adulting. You need to trust me when I tell you that having some financial cushion can go a long way,” Michelle says. “Your mom will back me up on this.”

You’re sure that she will.