We live in a time of hiding behind emails or text messages, having “Facebook friends,” or “Twitter relationships,” yet the experience of sitting and talking with someone; or even randomly crossing paths with an old, or new, friend or colleague by getting out and about is invaluable.
This past week, stops at the Big East Tournament, the Atlantic 10 Tournament, Fordham, Columbia, NYU, and Barnard (great summary of their “Beyond the Game event for women in athletics here) yielded too many rekindled relationships big and small to even name. They don’t have to always “lead” to something…they are just part of the human experience, and it’s something I enjoy so much. It is a great part not just of storytelling, but of listening and remembering those who were part of the path along the way.
This comes up as I am honored to say that I have a very small part in a new collection of sports business best practices…The Sports Business Handbook…compiled by Rick Horrow with assistance from Myles Schrag and Rick Burton. It has a huge list of heavy hitters, from Gary Bettman and Don Garber to Coach K and Tom Ricketts, and many little role players like me. Check it out here, and if you have someone interested in going into the business, it’s a worthwhile buy.
Here is my small piece, part of a chapter by former Red Sox head Larry Lucchino…all about the value of showing up.
I’ve been lucky enough to meet great people at many different points in my career. Through everyone you meet, you glean just a tiny bit of information that you can carry with you moving forward. I try to instill that mindset into my students whenever I can. How do you meet this people? How do these conversations happen in the first place? Half the battle is just showing up.
Today, I emphasize the value of showing up to all of my students at Columbia. In New York City, there are endless events and opportunities to attend every week. These events range from media, business and others, and are the perfect place to young professionals to figure out their career path. You never know who you’re going to meet, and who is going to help you along the way. For some reaso
n, we seem to have a fear of putting ourselves out into the world. Whether it’s fear of rejection or a sense of complacency, there is always a new experience waiting to be had. In the sports industry, people are willing to help. Everyone remembers what it was like to be young and unsure of what lies ahead. I’m always looking to connect with young professionals in need of guidance, and I’m not the only one.
All in all, put yourself out there. Don’t be afraid of uncertainty, tackle it head-on.
