• Loading stock data...
Monday, October 14, 2024
The Best Employers in Sports survey is now open! Take the survey

Dear Younger Me: Don’t be Afraid

While my career is still young and I continue my search for the next opportunity to learn, these are things I wish I could tell my younger self.

This post is part of the #YPSportsChat Blog Series! This series will give young professionals an inside look at the intricacies of the sports business world and advice on how to navigate it.

It’s okay to not know what is next. Image via Pexels.

I have been a marketing intern at Utah State University for nearly two and a half years. I have learned from great industry minds and also matured as a person. While my career is still young and I continue my search for the next opportunity to learn, grow, and refine my skills, there are things I wish I could tell my younger self.

Dear Younger Me:

1. Don’t Be Afraid

Your fear of reaching out and talking to someone in the athletics department could have given you 1–2 years earlier start as a marketing intern. Don’t be afraid to put yourself in new or unfamiliar positions because you can achieve anything if you set your mind to it. Yes, it’s true that you had a late start in the industry but that is OK. You definitely could have avoided some of the holes you dug yourself into as a freshman if you hadn’t been afraid to change your major and get into classes that would have helped you learn more about your passion earlier on.

2. Don’t Force It

If something just isn’t going to work, accept it and know that something even better is on its way. If it is too hard to push or make a door open, try the next door. I can guarantee that what’s behind that locked door you’re trying to force open is not meant for you. Take a step back and look for the open door. You always need to work hard but if you’re just not able to gain any momentum, get help and move on.

https://frontofficesports.com/dear-younger-me-chill-out-9700f7a7987f

You don’t need to rush through college or put yourself through the strain of balancing 6 jobs, a marriage and personal time. Make yourself and your relationships more of a priority and find happiness in simplicity. Avoid the burn out by cutting out the things you are trying to force and that don’t bring you joy.

3. You Are Better than You Know

What if I told you that in two years you will be looking at getting a full-time job or going to grad school? You will have been able to learn from some of the best minds in the industry as changes occur at Utah State. You think you’re just going to have fun rolling T-shirts and shooting them to fans as an intern but you will have an opportunity to be involved in creating and implementing your own marketing plans and making a noticeable difference in the athletics department. Don’t sell yourself short; volunteer to go above and beyond expectations and you will be able to soar to heights beyond what you can imagine.

4. Always Express Gratitude

You have always been great at expressing thanks. This is something that will become one of your trademarks as you go through your life. Say thanks to everyone who has helped to mold you into the hard worker you have become. Express gratitude to those who support you and help you achieve your career goals.

https://frontofficesports.com/dear-younger-me-chill-out-9700f7a7987f

You are in for one wild ride. Sometimes things won’t work out the way you would like them to or on your preferred timetable, but don’t lose faith! When that door doesn’t budge, it simply means something even better is waiting for you elsewhere. Don’t give up. You will graduate and you will make an impact because of the work ethic you were taught from a young age.

Keep it up and be proud of the success that you have already achieved and will achieve and don’t let your own fear or shyness hold you back. Get ready for big things to happen and enjoy the journey along the way.

Best,

Andrew Sproul (@AndrewSproul90)


Front Office Sports is a leading multi-platform publication and industry resource that covers the intersection of business and sports.

Want to learn more, or have a story featured about you or your organization? Contact us today.

https://upscri.be/f32ae1

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Inside Reno Professional Teams’ ‘5-Hour Workday’ Experiment

What if actually instituting a better work-life balance made you more productive? Two professional teams are committed to giving it a try.

Dear Younger Me: Never Forget Where You Came From

Here are some things you need to focus on to make your…

Choosing Positivity

Regardless of the situation, there’s always a choice for how you react.…

Dear Younger Me: Chill Out

You have the knowledge, work ethic, and drive to be successful, now…
podcast thumbnail mobile
Front Office Sports Today

How the PWHL is Changing Hockey

0:00

Featured Today

Sep 15, 2024; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas City Chiefs fans celebrate after a touchdown by Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice (4) during the first half against the Cincinnati Bengals at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium.

‘This Is My Whole Life’: How Swifties Became NFL Superfans

The “Chiefties” have arrived. And they are “fully committed” to football.
Sep 21, 2024; Boulder, Colorado, USA; Colorado Buffaloes quarterback Shedeur Sanders (2) walks through Buff Walk before the game against the Baylor Bears at Folsom Field.
opinion
October 11, 2024

The NIL Era Is a Wild West. Is Anyone Surprised?

Amateurism is dead and college athletes are professionals. How’s that working out?
October 11, 2024

‘We’re Ready for FBS’: Sacramento State Is Serious About the Jump

How the Hornets got themselves on the short list of potential call-ups.
Duante' Abercrombie News Ch.4 interview
October 9, 2024

Tennessee State’s Ambitious Plan to Launch an HBCU Hockey Program

TSU has big plans, but the university is facing an existential dilemma.
Sponsored

Temple Takes Your Sports Career to the Next Level

If you want to break through to the C-Suite , Temple University’s Executive Master of Science in Sport Business can help you up your game and accelerate your career. 
Sponsored

Networking With Purpose

Investing in the Ohio University PMSA unlocks access to one of the largest sports business alumni networks in the world.
Sponsored

University of San Francisco Is Your Ticket to the Game

Rated the No. 1 Sports Management program in California, USF has been a leader in educating industry professionals for more than 30 years.
Sponsored

Rivalries Reign Across Red River and the Beltway, London Calling

According to data from TickPick, renewed battles between bitter foes are spiking ticket prices.
Sponsored

UMass, McCormack Department of Sport Management Introduce Groundbreaking Women in Business Course

UMass’s Mark H. McCormack Department of Sport Management has announced the addition of a Women in Business course launching Spring 2021.
Sponsored

Sacred Heart University Gives Athletes and Students Hands-On Learning Opportunities

Professor Matthew F. Moran is training the industry’s next generation of exercise scientists at Sacred Heart University.
Sponsored

Ohio University PMSA Prepares Sports Professionals For New Normal

Two alumni of the Ohio University Professional Master of Sports Administration explain how they feel prepared for the future of sports.
Sponsored

Temple’s Sports Business Master’s Program Gives a Sports Media Pro Unique Perspective

Temple’s School of Sport, Tourism & Hospitality Management gave Sean Hanrahan the tools to elevate his career even after 30 years in the business.