We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Maribelia Avalos a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Maribelia , thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Can you talk to us about a risk you’ve taken – walk us through the story?
In 2008, I founded CASA FC (Community Athletic Soccer Academy), a youth soccer club in the heart of Denver, CO. I saw the need for a program that offered affordable, community-based soccer where our players could feel at home, hence the name CASA (which means “home”). The mission has always been to provide affordable and accessible soccer opportunities to our community, to benefit our players, and to help them reach their highest potential on and off the field. For the past sixteen years, we operated solely on a volunteer basis. We did everything absolutely because our hearts desired to help and make a difference, and we were always driven by passion, care, love, and dedication. However, the COVID-19 pandemic posed significant challenges for us. Unlike other nonprofit organizations or businesses, we did not receive any financial aid because we did not function as a business with payroll or overhead. Despite these difficulties and many others, we managed to persevere thanks to our strong commitment to the mission and my decision to keep the club running.
This experience marked a significant turning point for me. I realized that to ensure the club’s future success, investing in expanding our operations was essential. This involved hiring experienced professionals dedicated to our mission. Many of these individuals came to us, while others were specifically chosen for their ability to continue our work with passion and love, focusing on the care and development of our CASA FC players and community. This strategic enhancement aimed to bring additional expertise and resources to guarantee our long-term viability and progress.
It was a drastic change for our community, one that relied heavily on volunteerism to make soccer accessible to everyone, regardless of their financial situation.
Implementing this change was a significant risk. It required those who could afford to pay for professional services to do so, while still maintaining support for those who couldn’t. It was a delicate balance to strike, ensuring we didn’t alienate any members of our community while striving for professional excellence.
After a year of navigating this new landscape, I took another substantial risk: affiliating with the nationally renowned ALBION SC and rebranding our operations under this name. This decision came with the fear of losing part of our identity and facing resistance from our community. Many questioned why I would make such a move.
The reason was clear to me: aligning with ALBION SC provided us with invaluable resources, expertise, and a broader platform to elevate our club and opportunities for our players around the country and the world. It was a strategic decision aimed at ensuring the longevity and competitive edge of our club while maintaining our core values.
I understood that change can be difficult and met with skepticism, but I also believed in the potential benefits this affiliation would bring. Today, while we operate under the name ALBION SC Denver, we remain true to our roots and mission. The core of who we are hasn’t changed; we are still dedicated to making soccer accessible and affordable to help young athletes reach their highest potential and be successful leaders on and off the field; we will always continue to support those who need it most. Having been around for sixteen years, we wouldn’t change who we are now. The healthier and more supportive our community is of our mission, the greater impact we will have and the more players we can help in the long run.
Taking these risks was not easy and involved significant challenges and emotional hurdles. However, they were necessary steps to secure a brighter future for the club and our community. This was by no means an easy decision, especially for me. Letting go of the brand and name that I founded with so much love, inspired by what soccer had done for me and wanting it to do the same for others, was an extremely painful process. Yet, I kept in mind that true growth happens at the edge of your comfort zone. The transition has been met with mixed feelings from the community, but I stand by my decisions, confident that they will lead to greater opportunities and success for everyone involved. Together, we can always do more!
These risks taught me invaluable lessons about leadership, resilience, and the importance of strategic thinking in achieving long-term goals. By embracing change and taking bold steps, we can create lasting positive impacts that extend beyond our immediate circumstances.
Now, as the Founding Executive Director of ALBION SC Denver and the President of ALBION SC Colorado, I am looking forward to working with a team to create a bigger impact and continuing our mission of helping our community achieve more overall. With a larger and a professional team, we will create many more opportunities. I hope that everyone can see this vision and join us in creating more bold and accessible opportunities for all.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
I am Maribelia Avalos, the founder of Community Athletic Soccer Academy (CASA FC), which I started in 2008 in Colorado. My journey into this field began with a deep passion for soccer and a vision to provide affordable and accessible soccer opportunities for our community. Having experienced firsthand the transformative power of sports, I understood how they could shape lives and open doors.
As a leader, visionary, dreamer, doer, entrepreneur, speaker, and founder, I have always been a hardworking individual who doesn’t see limits. From a very young age, I have pursued my goals with determination and courage. I aim to encourage others to do the same.
How CASA FC Came to Be:
I founded CASA FC because I recognized a need in our community for a youth soccer program that could cater to underrepresented and underserved populations. Starting with just a laptop and eight players, CASA FC has grown over the years to serve over 7,000 youth players in the Denver Metro Area and beyond. We operated on a volunteer basis for sixteen years, driven by passion, care, love, and dedication to our mission.
What Sets Us Apart:
What sets CASA FC, now ALBION SC Denver, apart is our deep commitment to the community and our holistic approach to player development. We don’t just focus on soccer skills but also on personal growth, education, and leadership. Our players often progress to higher levels, including MLS Next Academy and college scholarships, demonstrating the effectiveness of our programs.
Personal Pride and Future Goals:
I am incredibly proud of the growth and success of CASA FC. Our rebranding to ALBION SC Denver is a testament to our dedication to providing even better opportunities for our players. As the Founding Executive Director of ALBION SC Denver and President of ALBION SC Colorado, I am excited to work with a larger and professional team to create more opportunities and make a bigger impact. We aim to continue our mission of helping our community achieve more, fostering an environment where every player can reach their full potential.
Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?
Absolutely, books have played a pivotal role in shaping my management and entrepreneurial philosophy over the years. I’ve delved into numerous leadership and self-improvement books, each offering unique insights that have profoundly influenced my approach to leading CASA FC, ALBION SC Denver, and all my other endeavors.
One of the most eye-opening books I’ve read is “Surrounded by Idiots” by Thomas Erikson. This book has been instrumental in helping me understand that we all work differently. It breaks down communication styles into four categories, making it easier for me to navigate interpersonal relationships and manage a diverse team effectively.
Brené Brown’s “Dare to Lead” has also been transformative. It emphasizes the importance of vulnerability, courage, and empathy in leadership. This book has taught me that leading with heart and authenticity can create a strong, trusting team dynamic.
“Extreme Ownership” and “The Dichotomy of Leadership” by Jocko Willink and Leif Babin have instilled in me the principle of taking full responsibility for everything in my purview. This mindset shift has been crucial in fostering accountability within my organization, ensuring that I strive for excellence and learn from my mistakes.
“Atomic Habits” by James Clear is another book that has greatly influenced my thinking. It offers a practical framework for developing good habits and breaking bad ones. Implementing its strategies has helped me cultivate a culture of continuous improvement and high performance.
David Goggins’ “Can’t Hurt Me” and “Never Finished” have been powerful motivators. His incredible story of resilience and mental toughness inspired me to push beyond my perceived limits and embrace discomfort for extraordinary growth. I read them during one of the hardest times in my life, and his approach taught me to let pain teach and transform me. They were the right books at the right moment.
“Ego is the Enemy” by Ryan Holiday has taught me the importance of humility and staying grounded. It has helped me recognize that ego can be a significant barrier to personal and professional growth, and managing it is essential for success.
“The Power of One More” by Ed Mylett and “The Five Things You Can’t Change” by David Richo have both contributed to my understanding of perseverance and acceptance, respectively. These books have provided valuable perspectives on resilience and focusing on what truly matters.
“The Big Leap” by Gay Hendricks and “Grit” by Angela Duckworth have reinforced the importance of overcoming internal barriers and cultivating perseverance. These principles are cornerstones of my leadership approach.
Lastly, “Traction” by Gino Wickman and “The Motive” by Patrick Lencioni have been incredibly useful in strategic planning and understanding the core motivations behind effective leadership. They’ve equipped me with tools to drive organizational growth and clarity.
Collectively, these and other books have not only enriched my leadership skills but also enhanced my ability to understand individual differences, foster accountability, embrace discomfort for growth and lead with empathy and authenticity. This holistic approach has been instrumental in navigating the challenges and opportunities in my mission to provide accessible soccer opportunities for all. I’ve always committed 100% and more to everything I do, making these books profoundly relevant to my journey.
How do you keep your team’s morale high?
My journey has taught me that leadership is about understanding and leveraging diverse strengths, fostering a shared vision, and leading authentically. Here are ten points that I believe are essential to good leadership:
1. Know Your Team:
Understand your team members’ strengths and weaknesses. Align tasks with their strengths and support them in improving their weaknesses to boost morale and performance.
2. Be Patient and Empathetic:
Recognize that everyone works differently. Patience and empathy build trust and create a positive work environment.
3. Foster a Shared Vision:
Communicate your mission clearly and passionately. When your team believes in the mission, they are more motivated and committed.
4. Encourage Growth:
Invest in your team’s development. Provide opportunities for learning and support their professional goals to show you value their contributions.
5. Lead with Passion:
Your enthusiasm can be contagious. Leading by example, where your directors can also lead their direct reports with dedication and authenticity, fosters trust and respect.
6. Embrace Teamwork:
Leadership is about empowering others. Encourage collaboration and create a space where ideas can be shared freely.
7. Maintain Open Communication:
Ensure there are open lines of communication. Regular check-ins and team meetings keep everyone aligned and informed.
8. Don’t Be Afraid to Fail:
Failure is an inevitable part of any career or life journey. While building a team, you may make mistakes in hiring the wrong people. Recognizing when a director or leader under you is not up for the job is crucial. Have the capacity to hire and fire until you build the right team. Keeping team members who do not align with your vision or the organization’s goals will not only hinder your progress but also harm the overall health of the organization or your business.
9. Trust Your Leaders:
Trusting your leaders can be challenging, especially when you’ve worked hard alone and care deeply about your organization. It’s natural to fear that no one else will take care of your “baby” like you will. However, just as parents use babysitters, you must learn to delegate and trust others with your responsibilities.
10. Embrace the Hardship:
Being a leader and an entrepreneur is incredibly challenging. Many people underestimate the amount of work, dedication, and resilience required. It’s not easy, and many people fail because they can’t handle the pressure and demands. The path to success is filled with struggles, but it is through these challenges that true growth happens. It’s essential to understand and accept that this journey is tough, and you need to be prepared to face and overcome numerous obstacles.
Throughout my career, I’ve realized that learning never stops. Each struggle and victory is an opportunity for growth. I strive to improve continuously, understanding that I can always do better. I want to emphasize that I don’t have all the answers. My goal is to keep learning and evolving, just like everyone else, throughout our entire lives.
However, I have learned a thing or two. Now, in ALBION SC Denver, I lead ten directors, and in ALBION SC Colorado, we are a team of more than seven directors. Together, we strive to create an inclusive and dynamic environment where everyone can thrive.
By embracing these principles, you can effectively manage a team and maintain high morale. Leadership is a journey of continuous growth. Embrace it with passion, authenticity, and a commitment to making a positive impact.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://albionscdenver.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/albionscdenver
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/albionscdenver
- Other: https://albionsccolorado.org
https://www.instagram.com/albioncolorado
https://masfit.us
https://www.instagram.com/masfit.us
https://www.facebook.com/masfit.us
Image Credits
Tony Contreras and Maribelia Avalos