This is posted as part of our Summer Intern Blog Series. Be sure to come back each week as interns from around the country share their summer experiences with us!
By: Kelly Cartner, @kellyfavre4
Even in this age of thousands of TV channels and the gift that is Netflix, keeping up with reading will never be outdated. At the end of the day, I love to indulge in a good book about how to improve my leadership, learn a new marketing strategy or read another story on my favorite coach, Vince Lombardi. I try to learn something new every day from reading, so I am always on the hunt for my next book.
Recently, I was given a book I have never heard of called “Chop Wood, Carry Water” by Joshua Medcalf. The book talks about the process of becoming great and shares a great story on a young boy who takes his journey of becoming a samurai archer. One lesson that stood out to me is the concept of “building your own house,” in which no matter what you are doing in life, whether it be personal or professional, you are always assembling your future. Whatever you are doing at work now or whatever relationship you are building, will have an impact on your future.
I thought about this more in depth and I relate it to all of my sportsbiz adventures I am partaking in this summer. All of my experiences I have received this summer and will receive in the next month are going to have an impact on my future…I am currently building my own house. All of the hours I am putting in and the new skill sets I have received are helping construct an impressive resume and assemble my repertoire. All of the times I have chosen to get out of my comfort zone and just say yes have not only given me new experiences, but have also provided me with conversation starters and great answers to questions in future interviews.
The concept of building my own house fits well with advice I was told while working the USTA tournament. This sharp piece of advice is: every day is an interview.
I was working with high level people within the USTA, with one of the highly ranked tennis coaches in NCAA and along with the senior administration in our athletic department, so there were many eyes on me from people that can help me get to the next level. I needed to treat every day like an interview. I needed to work on building my own house.
I worked hard throughout the week, did more than what was expected of me and lived by the “FILO” method of first one in, last one out. I acted as if every day of the tournament was an interview for me because I know it will help me in the long run. In fact, the USTA staff sent in their evaluation after the tournament week was over, which is sent to our senior administration staff along with the senior staff at the USTA, and in that evaluation the USTA staff mentioned my hard work ethic and noticed the time I was putting in to make this event a successful one. My work was beginning to pay off already!
I also made sure to give my thanks by writing hand written thank you cards for all they taught me during the week and will stay in touch with them via email on a regular basis. This will be part of the foundation to my house so I can have a strong and sturdy house.
Whether you are an intern, in an entry level position, or are looking for the next big promotion, every day is an interview and every day we are building our own houses. Work hard and set yourself up for success.
