I don’t know Joey Zanaboni, and really only came to know more of him through this Washington Post piece that talked about his lengthy career journey, issues overcome and more importantly the crux of the matter…how he created his own identifiable style, his own voice and how he brings joy to his job.
As we get hit up time and again this time of year and gladly answer as many calls, emails, texts and video messages form people changing careers or starting new ones, the same advice keeps ringing true, whether you have been at this for two weeks or gasp, almost 40 years.
Expanding your identifiable skills, being enthusiastic and curious, learning from mistakes, listening to those around you, doing the little things to make a difference, saying please and thank you, sending notes and following up, doing your homework, over preparing and over delivering are all so key to making the move, or more importantly, being in the position to be successful for when the opportunity does come knocking, either in minutes or months.
Ironically I found those same themes playing true at the highest level of competition as they have with the Fredrick Nationals announcer at the lower rungs of minor league baseball. In the final episode of “Man In The Arena,” Tom Brady and his dad spend a great amount of time going back and forth about identifying skills, continuing to learn and most importantly being driven to find joy in what one does. One of the most telling lines in Episode 10, which is all about Brady’s time leaving New England and going to Tampa, was about how his father motivated him when he was younger.
“He didn’t push me he held me up.”
In a world where the push comes first way too much but young Mr. Zanaboni and old father Tom were able to identify and thrive off of the skills they had in them, especially when someone around them gave them a chance to shine.
Both exploited their niche and have certainly enjoyed the ride.
Now some may say comparing a guy calling baseball in his distinctive style with arguably the NFL’s GOAT is silly. In reality it really isn’t. It is a comparison of the journey that sports brings you on, and being self aware enough to realize at some point the road leads you a different way, and accepting that change and finding the path gets you to places you may not fully realize at first. It seems like young Joey has been stifled a bit in his ride, and he admits he may never get the MLB call to call the games. But for now, he has created a recognizable spot in his own way, even if he doesn’t have all those rings of an elite QB.
So when asked about how to get there from here in sports, I can point to several stories for lessons, one the best known in the NFL, and another one learned about a young voice still on the road, both great examples of the places we go.
