I'm Back. Let's Get to Work. (July 13, 2026)

The past few days gave me something we all need from time to time: space.

Space to slow down.
Space to reflect.
Space to think about where I've been and where I'm headed next.

Vacation isn't just about stepping away from work. It's about returning with a clearer perspective. Sometimes the best ideas don't come while sitting behind a desk. They come when you finally give your mind permission to breathe.

As much as I enjoyed the time away, I'm excited to be back.

Over the next several weeks, we're going to have some important conversations. If you're a college student, graduate assistant, intern, young professional, or someone trying to find your place in college athletics, this next series is for you.

We'll talk about the things that rarely make it into job descriptions or classroom lectures:

• Building relationships that actually matter.

• Becoming someone people trust.

• Communicating with confidence.

• Standing out without trying to be the loudest person in the room.

• Preparing for opportunities before they arrive.

• Creating habits that make success repeatable instead of accidental.

These aren't shortcuts.

They're the small decisions that separate people who hope for opportunities from those who are ready when opportunity finds them.

A Thought Before We Begin

Your career isn't built during the biggest moments.

It's built in the quiet moments when no one is watching.

It's built through the email you send.
The follow-up you don't skip.
The conversation you choose to have.
The note you take.
The person you encourage.
The standard you refuse to lower.

Success in this profession isn't reserved for the most connected person or the loudest voice. More often, it belongs to the individual who keeps showing up with purpose, consistency, humility, and a willingness to keep learning.

That's where we're headed together.

If you're ready to grow—not just professionally, but personally—I hope you'll join me over the coming weeks.

There's a lot to talk about.

And I believe some of the best conversations are just getting started.

Stay Connected.

Part 5: Sometimes the Best Career Move Is to Pause (June 25, 2026)

One of the biggest misconceptions about building a successful career is that you always have to be moving.

Apply for another job.

Send another networking email.

Attend another conference.

Post another update on LinkedIn.

Find another certification.

The pressure to always be doing something can leave us feeling like we're making progress when, in reality, we're simply staying busy.

There is a difference.

The most successful professionals I've met over the past 26 years in college athletics have something in common. They work incredibly hard, but they also know when to step back. They create space to think. They evaluate where they've been, where they're going, and whether the path they're on still aligns with the person they want to become.

Reflection isn't time away from growth.

Reflection is part of growth.

As I write this, I'm preparing to take two weeks away to rest, recharge, spend time with my family, and simply think. There won't be a long checklist to complete. There won't be pressure to create content every day or answer every email immediately.

Instead, I'll be doing something I believe many of us don't do nearly enough.

I'll be listening.

Listening to my own thoughts.

Listening to the ideas that have been pushed aside because life has been moving too fast.

Listening to what deserves my attention during the final six months of 2026.

For those of us working in college athletics, we're conditioned to keep going. There is always another season, another event, another deadline, another student-athlete to serve, another story to tell.

The work never truly stops.

But neither should our commitment to becoming better leaders, better communicators, and better people.

Sometimes becoming better starts by slowing down.

Three Questions Worth Asking

Whether you're a student searching for your first internship, a graduate assistant preparing for your next opportunity, or a seasoned professional leading a department, I encourage you to ask yourself three simple questions.

What am I most proud of this year?

Not your résumé.

Not your awards.

Think about the conversations that mattered.

The people you helped.

The relationships you built.

The moments that reminded you why you chose this profession.

What do I need to leave behind?

Maybe it's comparison.

Maybe it's fear of rejection.

Maybe it's believing you have to know everything before taking the next step.

Growth often begins when we stop carrying things that no longer serve us.

What deserves more of my attention?

Relationships?

Learning?

Health?

Family?

Mentorship?

Purpose?

Success rarely comes from doing more things.

It often comes from giving more attention to the right things.

Careers Are Built With Intention

One of the reasons I started writing this blog series is because I've watched too many talented people believe they have to figure everything out on their own.

You don't.

Careers are built through relationships.

Through intentional conversations.

Through asking thoughtful questions.

Through helping others.

Through taking time to become the kind of professional people trust.

That kind of growth doesn't happen overnight.

It also doesn't happen when every minute of your schedule is full.

Sometimes the most productive thing you can do is create enough margin to think clearly.

Editor's Perspective

The first half of 2026 has challenged me, encouraged me, and reminded me why I love working in college athletics.

I've had opportunities to meet new people, mentor young professionals, celebrate career milestones, tell meaningful stories at Spartanburg Methodist College, and continue building the vision for GetSET2Connect.

I'm incredibly grateful for each conversation.

I'm equally excited about what's ahead.

Over the next two weeks, I'm intentionally stepping away—not because I'm finished, but because I want to return with greater clarity, renewed energy, and an even stronger commitment to serving this profession.

When I come back, my attention shifts toward the next chapter.

Launching GetSET2Connect.

Building new partnerships.

Creating resources that help future college sports communicators feel prepared instead of overwhelmed.

Continuing to invest in people, because people have always been the best part of this profession.

The second half of 2026 isn't about doing more.

It's about doing what matters most.

Your Assignment

Set aside 30 uninterrupted minutes this week.

Leave your phone in another room.

Close your laptop.

Grab a notebook and answer these three questions:

• What should I continue doing?

• What should I stop doing?

• What deserves more of my attention during the rest of this year?

Don't rush your answers.

The direction of your career isn't determined only by how hard you work.

It's also shaped by how honestly you're willing to reflect.

Thank you for reading this series and for allowing me to be a small part of your career journey.

We'll continue building together soon.

Stay Connected.

Part 4: Connection Is More Than Collecting Contacts (June 23, 2026)

When you look up the word connection, you find a simple definition:

"A relationship in which a person, thing, or idea is linked or associated with something else."

That definition says nothing about followers. Nothing about business cards. Nothing about LinkedIn connection counts.

It simply says relationship.

That matters.

Somewhere along the way, networking became a numbers game. People measure success by how many invitations they send, how many people follow them, or how many names appear in their contact list.

But contacts and connections are not the same thing.

You can have 10,000 LinkedIn connections and still have no one to call when you need advice.

You can attend every conference and still leave without building a single meaningful relationship.

You can collect business cards all day long and never earn someone's trust.

Real connections are built differently.

They are built through conversations.

They are built by showing genuine curiosity.

They are built by asking questions instead of talking about yourself.

They are built by following up after everyone else has moved on.

They are built when people know they can count on you—not because you need something today, but because you've consistently shown up over time.

Throughout my career, the opportunities that changed my life rarely came from someone I had just met.

They came from people who had watched me work.

People who had seen me keep my word.

People who knew how I treated others when there wasn't anything to gain.

That's the difference between a contact and a connection.

A contact knows your name.

A connection knows your character.

As I continue building from this blog into its next stages, this is the standard I hope we create together.

Not a community built on transactions.

A community built on trust.

Not people asking, "What can you do for me?"

But people asking, "How can I help you succeed?"

That shift changes everything.

When enough people commit to serving one another, opportunities naturally begin to follow.

Relationships become referrals.

Conversations become collaborations.

Mentors become friends.

And careers begin to grow because people believe in the person behind the résumé.

The definition of connection may be simple.

Living it is where the real work begins.

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Reflection Questions

• Are you building a list of contacts or a network of trusted relationships?
• Who has invested in your career simply because they believed in you?
• Who could you encourage, introduce, or support this week without expecting anything in return?
• What kind of connection do you want people to think of when they hear your name?

Coming Next in Part 5

Communication is what turns a connection into a lasting relationship. A thoughtful message, a timely follow-up, or a genuine conversation often becomes the bridge between meeting someone once and building a relationship that lasts for years.

Part 3: The Best Careers Are Built Together (June 23, 2026)

For most people working in college athletics, there is one thing they all remember.

The person who answered.

Not the biggest name in the profession.
Not the athletic director.
Not the conference commissioner.

The person who took ten minutes to answer an email.
The person who agreed to have coffee.
The person who reviewed a résumé.
The person who made an introduction.
The person who simply said...

"Keep going. You're going to be okay."

Those moments matter more than we often realize.

When you're just starting out, college athletics can feel intimidating. Everyone seems to know everyone else. Every job asks for experience you don't yet have. Every application feels like you're sending your résumé into a black hole.

It's easy to believe you're the only one trying to figure it out.

You're not.

Every respected sports communicator was once the person asking questions.

They wondered if they belonged.
They questioned whether they were good enough.
They worried they would never get their first opportunity.

Someone helped them.

Maybe it was a supervisor.
Maybe it was a graduate assistant.
Maybe it was another SID they met at a convention.

Someone made the profession feel a little smaller.

That's how our profession has always grown.

Not through competition.

Through connection.

That belief sits at the center of why I am writing this blog and setting a foundation for future efforts.

It isn't about building another network.

It's about building a community where experienced professionals intentionally make the path easier for those coming behind them.

Because none of us got here completely on our own.

Every conversation has the potential to change someone's career.

Every introduction has the potential to open a door.

Every encouraging message has the potential to keep someone from giving up.

Imagine if every experienced communicator committed to helping just one young professional every year.

How many careers would change?

How many talented people would stay in our profession instead of leaving because they felt invisible?

That future doesn't happen because of one organization.

It happens because individuals decide someone else's success matters.

I started this blog as the foundation piece so that no passionate future college sports communicator has to begin their career alone.

If we build that culture together, everyone wins.

Part 2: How to Write an Introduction Email People Actually Want to Answer (June 20, 2026)

 One email won't change your career.

But one email can start the relationship that changes your career.

The key is writing an email that feels human.

Not transactional.

Not self-centered.

Not copied from a template.

Keep It Simple

An introduction email doesn't need to be long.

It needs to be genuine.

Start with who you are.

Explain why you're reaching out.

Mention something specific that caught your attention.

Ask one thoughtful question.

That's it.

Part 1: The Best Opportunities Rarely Start With a Job Posting (June 20, 2026)

Every day, thousands of people refresh job boards hoping to find the next opportunity.

There's nothing wrong with that.

But many of the best opportunities in college athletics never begin with a job posting.

They begin with a conversation.

A simple email.

A LinkedIn message.

A coffee meeting.

An introduction made at a convention.

Before there was an opening, there was a relationship.

Relationships Are Built Before They're Needed

One lesson I've learned throughout my career is this:

Don't wait until you need something to introduce yourself.

Too often, we only reach out when we're looking for a job, asking for a recommendation, or hoping someone can open a door.

Imagine if we reversed that thinking.

What if we introduced ourselves simply because we admired someone's work?

What if we wanted to learn instead of immediately asking for something?

That approach changes everything.

People remember those who are genuinely curious.

They remember those who celebrate others.

They remember those who consistently add value to conversations.

The Smartest Person in the Room Asks the Most Questions (June 19, 2026)

"I will ask a thousand questions. I don't mind looking like I don't know. Please educate me. Being open to admitting what you don't know—some people are very uncomfortable with that and it could be a challenge." — Julie Fussner

Early in my career, I thought the quickest way to earn respect was to have the answers.

If I knew enough, worked hard enough, and avoided mistakes, people would see my value.

What I've learned over the past 26 years is almost the opposite.

The people who continue to grow are rarely the ones pretending to know everything. They are the ones who remain curious. They ask thoughtful questions. They seek advice. They invite correction. Most importantly, they understand that learning never stops.

That mindset is becoming increasingly rare.

Many young professionals enter interviews believing they need to impress everyone with what they know. New graduate assistants feel pressure to prove they belong. Entry-level communicators worry that asking a question will make them appear inexperienced.

In reality, refusing to ask questions often reveals more than asking them ever could.

There is a difference between ignorance and curiosity.

Ignorance says, "I don't know, and I don't care."

Curiosity says, "I don't know yet. Teach me."

That single word—yet—changes everything.

The Best Mentors Want Your Questions

Throughout my career, I've been fortunate to learn from professionals who invested their time in me.

None of them expected me to know everything.

They expected me to listen.

They expected me to work.

They expected me to ask questions.

Every meaningful mentor I've had appreciated curiosity far more than confidence.

Why?

Because questions demonstrate humility.

Questions demonstrate engagement.

Questions demonstrate that you're willing to improve.

This Is One of the Reasons Why I Blog

One of the biggest reasons I started to blog is because too many students and young professionals believe they have to figure everything out on their own.

They don't.

This blog isn't built around having all the answers.

It's built around creating conversations where questions are welcomed.

Whether someone is preparing for their first internship, applying for a graduate assistantship, interviewing for an entry-level athletic communications position, or simply trying to understand the profession better, I want them to know this:

Ask.

Reach out.

Schedule the informational interview.

Send the email.

Follow up.

The people who are willing to help usually remember what it was like when they were starting, too.

Connection begins with a question.

Communication begins with a question.

Collaboration begins with a question.

Those three principles form the foundation of why I blog.

Don't Protect Your Ego. Protect Your Growth.

Some people avoid asking questions because they fear looking uninformed.

Ironically, that fear often keeps them from becoming informed.

Growth has always required humility.

Every expert was once a beginner.

Every respected athletic communicator once asked where to stand during a postgame interview, how to write a game recap, or how to prepare for media day.

Nobody starts as an expert.

The difference is that some people stop asking questions too soon.

Don't be one of them.

The smartest person in the room isn't necessarily the one speaking the most.

Often, it's the one asking the best questions.

Because every great career begins with a willingness to learn.