Articles of Interest (Jan. 1, 2017)

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

This blog is dedicated to help people regardless of where you are at in your professional journey. I am excited to see what 2017 will bring forth, both personally and professionally. I am thankful for those of you, who have shared this blog with others. 

QUOTES of ENCOURAGEMENT

"We all have ability. The difference is how we use it." - Stevie Wonder


“For many people a job is more than an income - it's an important part of who we are. So a career transition of any sort is one of the most unsettling experiences you can face in your life."  – Paul Clitheroe via Michelle Robin, Career Hacks e-newsletter

 ARTICLES OF INTEREST

STRATEGIC

Everything Happens for a Reason (Republished - Chris Yandle, Front Office Sports) 

Side note: I have known Chris Yandle since his days as a student assistant at the University of Louisiana. He remains one of the most genuine and transparent people about the rigors that working in athletics does both personally and professionally.  

How to Create an Extra Hour at Work to Think Each Day (Robin Madell, US News and World Report)

ENGAGED

The 1% Rule That'll Make Reaching Big Goals Feel Easy (Alyse Kalish, via The Muse)

Articles of Interest (Dec. 29, 2016)

This blog is dedicated to help people regardless of where you are at in your professional journey. I am excited to see what 2017 will bring forth, both personally and professionally. I am thankful for those of you, who have shared this blog with others. 

ARTICLES OF INTEREST

STRATEGIC

Small Ways to Achieve BIG Goals (Darren Hardy)

Side note: In the middle of 2016, I signed up to receive a text message of mentorship from Darren Hardy. It has been a valuable addition to my morning reflection time to complement the many abundance of articles as well as information on social media. 

A Plan is Better than Luck (Vitae)

ENGAGED

Play Chess, Not Checkers with Your Sports Career (Bob Hamer, Sports Business Solutions) - This isn't a current article but it is something that I recently came across and thought it was beneficial to share in this space.

Side note: Sports Business Solutions provides training, consulting, and recruiting services for sports teams and provide Career Services for those interested in working in sports.

TEAMWORK

A tweet from Jon Gordon:

QUOTES of ENCOURAGEMENT

"If you lose the motivation to pursue your goals, you need to expand your why." – Michael Hyatt

"Know what you want to do, hold the thought firmly, and do every day what should be done, and every sunset will see you that much nearer your goal." – Elbert Hubbard

JOB LEADS within Sports Information

• Assistant Athletic Director for Communications, St. Gregory's University (Shawnee, Oklahoma / NAIA)
• Multimedia Assistant, West Virginia University

Articles of Interest (Dec. 22, 2016)

Before I get into the latest edition of the #GetSET blog, I wanted to take a brief break to be thankful. On Wednesday, December 21, John McNichols - passed away after complications from a stroke. Coach McNichols was one of the first coaches I worked with early in my career in sports information at Indiana State University. He allowed me to come alongside him to do many great things including hosting the 2002 NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships. It might be the events, the meets that some people will remember but it will be the visits to his office or in casual conversations that I will remember most. He was a very dedicated and committed to every individual, who came alongside him. I share his legacy in this space to reiterate the importance of your relationships. Coach McNichols was very subservient and a great teammate in all that he did. He epitomized what it meant to be SET.

 

John McNichols

“A great soul serves everyone all the time. A great soul never dies. It brings us together again and again.” – Maya Angelou

This blog remains dedicated to help people regardless of where you are at in your professional journey.

ARTICLES OF INTEREST

STRATEGIC

Balancing Current Performance with Future Growth (Thought Leaders, LLC)

ENGAGED

Stop Wasting Your Time at Work (Joel Garfinkle, SmartBrief)

TEAMWORK

550 Billion Reasons You Need Better Teammates (Thought Leaders, LLC)

QUOTE of ENCOURAGEMENT

"I have never felt that anything really mattered but the satisfaction of knowing that you stood for the things in which you believed, and had done the very best you could." – Eleanor Roosevelt

JOB LEADS within Sports Information

• Intern, Arizona State University
• Associate Athletic Director for External Relations, Adelphi University

Articles of Interest (Dec. 20, 2016)

This is the latest edition of the #GetSET blog with articles, news and notes as well as various job leads within sports information that I have seen posted through various mediums. This blog remains dedicated to help people regardless of where you are at in your professional journey.

If you haven't read the book, "2 Chairs" by Bob Beaudine, put it on your list to read. I took the time to read and reflect upon it, this year.

Mr. Beaudine ranks as one of the most influential authors that I have read and is part of the inspiration behind me doing this blog.

"You never know how many opportunities come your way. Nor will you know how small or how large. You simply need to make the most of each & every one! Be ready!" - Bob Beaudine

ARTICLES OF INTEREST

STRATEGIC
Finding the niche of those in the hiring process is a key part of being 'strategic' in your job search. I came across this article, in relationship to those in university human resources departments.
Read more. 

ENGAGED
• 5 Easy Tips for Cultivating Relationships That Matter (Jeff Charles)

• 4 Ways to Become the Mentor Your Company Needs (Anka Wittenberg, Chief Learning Officer)

TEAMWORK

• 4 Ugly Ways Conversations to Have With Your Team Before Year End (Karin Hurt, Let's Grow Leaders)

QUOTES of ENCOURAGEMENT

"There's a difference between interest and commitment. When you are interested in doing something, you do it only when it is convenient. When you are committed to something, you accept no excuses." – Ken Blanchard

"We can't afford to let pointless inefficiencies slow us down. We must equip our teams with the proper tools." – Michael Hyatt

JOB LEADS within Sports Information

• Assistant Director, Radford University
  
• Assistant Director, New Mexico State University
  
• Assistant Director, University of Missouri-Kansas City
  
• Assistant Athletic Director for Communications and Public Relations, University of California-Davis

Articles of Interest (Dec. 15, 2016)

This is the latest edition of the #GetSET blog with articles, news and notes as well as various job leads within sports information that I have seen posted through various mediums. This blog remains dedicated to help people regardless of where you are at in your professional journey.

 Articles of Interest

STRATEGIC
Trying not to Lose is Different than Trying to Win (Michael Winston guest blog on Dan McCarthy's blog)

ENGAGED
Las Vegas Connection Comes Full Circle at San Diego State (Ron Kantowski, Las Vegas Review-Journal) - This isn't your traditional article but it is a reminder of how important it is to cultivate relationships within your position. The end of the article is something that I have done to remind me.

Before re-entering the workforce in September 2013, I came across an author named Jon Gordon (@JonGordon11), who has published many great books including "Training Camp", "The Carpenter" and "The Seed." It is in these books along with many other key factors got me back into a career in sports information. If you'd like to borrow a copy from my library, contact me, I'd be glad to share it. Or if you would like to discuss it. A friend suggested this video and I thought it would be great to share here, especially on this key topic.

TEAMWORK
12 Ways Servant Leaders Serve Others so Others are Free to Serve Others (Leadership Freak)


JOB LEADS

Assistant Director of Operations & Montagne Center Manager - Lamar University in Beaumont, Texas

Staff Photographer - Indiana University Athletics in Bloomington, Indiana


WORDS of ENCOURAGEMENT

"A belief is not merely an idea the mind possesses; it is an idea that possesses the mind." - Robert Oxtron Bolt

"The greater danger for most of us not lies in setting our aim too high and falling short, but in setting our aim too low, and achieving our mark." - Michelangelo

Articles of Interest (Dec. 13, 2016)

This is the latest edition of the #GetSET blog with articles, news and notes as well as various job leads within sports information that I have seen posted through various mediums. But, before I get any further into this installment, I wanted to say thank you to all who visited my last post. It was the most visited blog since I restarted it. It remains dedicated to help people regardless of where you are at in your professional journey.

Articles of Interest

STRATEGIC

• The Power of Writing Down Your Goals (Matt Mayberry, Entrepreneur Magazine)
• So You Want to Work for Bill Belichick? Former Patriots Assistants Recall Intense Interview Process (MassLive.com)
• The Power of Being Open Minded (Front Office Sports)
• Note: If you aren't already reading the insights, you're missing out. The work of the team at Front Office Sports have cultivated a strategy that this blog is to supplement. 

ENGAGED

• What Basketball Can Teach Us About Responsibility by Jim Rohn (Success Magazine)
• Teaching the Benefits of Change (Chief Learning Officer Magazine)
• John Donahoe: Dump the Myth of the High Achiever (Stanford University Graduate School of Business)

TEAMWORK

• The Best Jobs Now Require You To Be A People Person (FiveThirtyEight)

Job Lead within Sports Information

NCAA Division I
• UCLA (Associate Director, Social Media)

Subtle Plug

• If you are wanting to make an investment into your career in sports information, consider attending the CoSIDA Convention. There are grants available thru CoSIDA to attend. Visit http://www.cosida.com/sports/2015/11/5/2017_conventiongrant_application.aspx? for more information.

Articles of Interest (Dec. 9, 2016)

This is the first edition of the #GetSET blog that will share job leads within sports information that I have seen posted through various mediums. This blog is dedicated to help people regardless of where you are at in your professional journey.

Articles of Interest

STRATEGIC - Today's installment of articles come from a great source, Work It Daily.

• 3 Ways to Get Through the Workday
• 5 Ways to Conquer the Anxiety of First Job Search

ENGAGED

• 5 Things Every Employer Wants to Hear in an Interview from Work It Daily
• Don't Be a Downer on Your Social Media Pages by Jenn Herman

Job Leads within Sports Information

NCAA Division I
• Eastern Washington University
• North Carolina State University
• University of Virginia

NCAA Division II
• Saint Martin's University

NCAA Division III
• Millsaps College

NAIA
• Lewis & Clark State College
• Multnomah University

Articles of Interest (Dec. 5, 2016)

Today's installment of the Articles of Interest, there comes articles from a variety of sources to encourage and inspire you as it's never too late to #GetSET. I hope that you've found these articles as a way to get on to the path of SET - Strategic; Engaged; Teamwork.

STRATEGIC

• A lesson from baseball: Keep It Simple (SmartBrief)
• 12 Things You Need to Really Get Rid of in the Next 12 Months (Lolly Daskal, Inc Magazine)
• The 3 "Be's" of Leadership (SmartBrief)

ENGAGED

• 4 Easy Ways to Get Access to Anyone, Even Warren Buffett (Betty Liu, LinkedIn)
• How to weave grit into your company's culture (Robert Glazer, SmartBrief)

TEAMWORK

• Bring Out the Best in Yourself, Others (Laura Francis, Chief Learning Officer)

Articles of Interest (Dec. 2, 2016)

One of my favorite authors is John Maxwell, who is more than an author. He is also an accomplished speaker and pastor. Twice, I have had the privilege of hearing him speaking in person. Plus, I have read many of his books and receive many different e-newsletters filled with his efforts or people like me, who have been influenced by him.

The first piece I wanted to share comes from the daily devotional by John Maxwell, "Leadership Promises for Every Day."

Even people who lack talent and fail to cultivate other vital qualities can contribute if they possess a tenacious spirit. Being tenacious means:

1. Giving all that you have, not more than you have-Some people mistakenly believe that being tenacious demands from them more than they have to offer. As a result, they don't push themselves. However, being tenacious requires that you give 100 percent-not more, but certainly not less.
2. Working with determination, not waiting on destiny-Tenacious people don't rely on luck, fate, or destiny for their success. They know that trying times are no time to quit trying.
3. Quitting when the job is done, not when you're tired-Robert Strauss said, "Success is a little like wrestling a gorilla. You don't quit when you're tired-you quit when the gorilla is tired." If you want your team to succeed, you have to keep pushing beyond what you think you can do. It's not the first but the last step in the relay race, the last shot in the basketball game, the last yard with the football into the end zone that makes the difference, for that is where the game is won.

Excerpt from The 17 Essential Qualities of a Team Player

---

I have learned as a former human resources student and as a long-time member of the CoSIDA (College Sports Information Directors of America) Job Seekers committee to understand various trends within both industries. Learning what the other is expecting has been important and beneficial to both job seekers and job holders.

3 Key Social Media Trends for Recruiters and HR in 2017

---

Here is an article that talks about LeBron James and leadership to his teammates and to his organization that I thought would be worth sharing here.

LeBron James and Leadership

---

The other article that I wanted to share ties in the role that LinkedIn and how to utilize your connections. I am fortunate that through LinkedIn, I have been able to connect with many people in various avenues of life, who have contributed to my endeavors, both personally and professionally.
  

3 Easy Ways To Offer Value To Your LinkedIn Connections

Articles of Interest (Nov. 30, 2016)

For this update, I am sharing with you various articles of interest for you to read, review and apply what you can from them. I have broken them down from our SET (Strategic - Engaged - Teamwork) acronym as well as a thought-provoking article by Jamy Bechler, who served as a high school boys basketball coach as well as being involved with many other endeavors that instill valuable skills into people. To read more about him, visit http://coachbechler.blogspot.com/(.)

Thankfulness

http://bit.ly/2fRGN2z

Strategic

http://bit.ly/2gJgKcG

Engaged

http://muse.cm/2glgK4A

Teamwork

http://bit.ly/2gOOGHT
http://bit.ly/2gydWP7

On the campus of Pacific University
Forest Grove, Oregon
November 30, 2016

Articles of Interest (Nov. 28, 2016)

I have neglected posting for a little while but I have collected a variety of links for the job seeker as well as other encouraging thoughts that I have came across in my reading.

• Questions and Tasks to Be Asked in a Job Interview (PR News)
• Young Professionals: Stress Less About Being Inexperienced (Undercover Recruiter)
• The Ultimate Guide to a Successful Interview (Undercover Recruiter)
• 34 Things You Should Remove from Your Resume Immediately (Business Insider)
• Stop Telling Sport Employers You Are a "Huge Fan!" (Dan Matheson)
 – Dan Matheson is a Sports Management professor at the University of Iowa. I have followed Dan on Twitter (@DanMatheson) and have found his insights to be beneficial and wanted to share them with you.

Encouraging Thoughts
"Your mind needs to be focused on embracing the precious present if you are going to eventually live your best life and make your mark on the world." - Coyte Cooper

"The joy is in the journey and the journey is the joy." - Barbara Bush

"Successful people maintain a positive focus in life no matter what is going on around them." - Jack Canfield

Inspiration from Walt Disney

A person should set his goals as early as he can and devote all his energy and talent to getting there. With enough effort, he may achieve it. Or he may find something that is even more rewarding. But in the end, no matter what the outcome, he will know he has been alive.

Walt Disney Let's Get SET and make a difference, one task; one day at a time. Find me on Instagram: @DKambel Find me on Twitter: @DannyKambel  Follow the Hashtag conversation: #GetSET

Re-post of the interview that I did with Barb Kowal, CoSIDA Director of Professional Development and External Relations

Either you can read the interview here or you can read it below:

Thank you to all those who have contributed to my journey.

Danny Kambel
Pacific (Ore.) Sports Information Director
CoSIDA Job Seekers Committee vice-chair
 
by Barb Kowal, CoSIDA Director of Professional Development and External Relations
CoSIDA Week Committee member

Kambel is in the third month of his new athletic communications position, serving as SID at NCAA Division III Pacific University in Forest Grove, Ore. Previously, he was the sports information director at LeTourneau University in Longview, Texas for three years. His office earned the 2015-16 American Southwest Conference Sports Information Department of the Year honor. Kambel came to LETU following stints as SID at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville and Texas A&M University-Commerce and was assistant SID at Florida International and Indiana State and an intern at Indiana University and the U.S. Naval Academy. He serves as vice-chair of the CoSIDA Job Seekers Committee.

What originally sparked your interest in working in collegiate athletics? At what point in your life life did you know that you wanted to work in athletics and when and how did you decide to go into athletic communications? 

Kambel: My father was involved in the University of Northern Iowa athletics, primarily with football during my younger days. If I wasn’t reading a sports biography from the local library or his weekly copy of the Sporting News, I was reading a media guide from UNI or the Street & Smith basketball or football edition from cover to cover. I knew there was a lot of work that went into all this and I started to set my career plans towards this endeavor when I started my sophomore year in high school. I was the only sophomore that worked on the school’s television station and later into my sophomore year, they asked me to start writing for the school newspaper. My intention was to do as much journalism activities in high school as I knew it would open the doors for me to get involved in college.

In August of 1994, in my third week at Columbus State Community College, I took the step forward to get into sports information. It was then that I first started reading and hearing about CoSIDA. During that time, I started to align my academic and professional goals for the field of sports information. I had to educate myself on what it meant to achieve those goals, but it was two people, Mr. Eric Welch and Dr. Tom Habegger, who helped me to start to map out this plan. The two of them have been there for me since day one.
 Usually, people have a little breathing room and time to evaluate and reflect when they start a new job. You, however,  jumped right into game management action on your first day at Pacific Sept. 2 – which was Pacific's second day of competition this fall and the day of the Boxer football home opener. What was that day like, and how have you managed to get acclimated over the last two months?
 
The day of September 2 will always be a day that I will never forget. I woke up knowing that I was embarking on a new journey at Pacific University as the SID. The night before I had just said farewell to friendships and memories of the last three-plus years at LeTourneau University in Longview, Texas. Thankfully, it was a quick and uneventful plane ride, but I felt I had been equipped by mentors and friends that had prepared for me for this day.

As soon as I got to campus, I had an unwritten plan for the day, but any good plan has to be flexible as I have learned. I was able to reacquaint myself with the faces that I had met on my interview and to touch base with my supervisors – Athletic Director Ken Schumann and Associate AD Lauren Esbensen. To the credit of my co-workers Casey Grogan and Kelly Beck, I was able to spend most of the game in an observer role. I arrived in enough time to reacquaint myself with our head football coach and his staff. It was in that first game, I also met many of the game operations staff that allows me to do this job at Pacific.

During the game, there was an issue that Mr. Schumann brought to my attention for resolution and it was something that I had a solution for moving forward. At Pacific, there have been many people who have come alongside me to make my transition very smooth. There’s not a day where a coach doesn’t come by to say hello and visit. The only thing that has accumulated in my office is my Diet Coke bottles but the memories and visits with the student-athletes and coaches have been phenomenal. I feel very blessed to be here.
 
You have an interesting and robust Twitter feed (@DannyKambel) where you not only post about daily happenings and your thoughts, but you continually reference leadership quotes and daily reflection quotes. What inspires you to seek out these quotes?
 
Kambel: I find the quotes from my Twitter feed through my diverse followers that encompass my wide variety of interests. I do a lot of reading away from the job; reading is my ‘hobby.’ Two of my favorite people to read are John Maxwell and Jon Gordon, who both are great reads and sources of encouragement to me and share with the audience concepts that transcend into sports.

You also engage in many athletic pr/marketing Twitter chats. What specific Twitter chats do you engage in and why?   

Kambel: I have had to scale back my involvement in Twitter chats, as of late, because of my new time zone. But, I have a listing of them that I put into my calendar that is synced to my phone, too. The first chat that I ever engaged with and has had a profound impact in my life is the #SCAChat (small college athletics chat) that was developed by Jim Abbott, Athletic Director at Oklahoma City University; Kirby Garry, Athletic Director at Cal State Monterey Bay and Ryan Ivey, Athletic Director at Austin Peay State University. Following the 2014 NACDA/CoSIDA Convention, Jim had indicated to me that he was starting a chat for small college athletics and it was while at the convention that I had learned to be more transparent with my social media. I have been fortunate to engage within this chat since its onset and met many of the participants that have helped me in more ways than one. Plus, on a few occasions, I have been fortunate to moderate the chat.

The other chats that I would recommend are the #YPSportsChat for the young professionals in sports. I might not be young in age but I have found the audience in the chats to be beneficial to me in a two-way street. I have gained an understanding of how to lead and mentor, but also how to communicate with this demographic. One of the highlights of the 2016 combined NACDA and CoSIDA convention for me was the opportunity to connect with many of these individuals in person and to continue being a ‘big brother’ to many of the participants.

Lastly, there are a few other chats that I haven’t been able to participate in as much are outside the athletics realm are the #jobhuntchat and #internpro that have helped me to learn more about the job seeking and mentoring that is prevalent in some cases but also missing in others within our sports industry. I have been able to provide relevant commentary to that audience about our industry as an educator. Personally, it was in these chats that I met individuals who helped prepare me for my new position at Pacific University with advice in key areas such as resume writing and interview preparation. As a long-time member of the CoSIDA Job Seekers committee, I plan to use both areas of advice in future editions of the "CoSIDA Job Seekers primer" for which I serve as the editor.

The sacrifice in time that I make to do these chats is a reflection of my lifestyle and I think there is something to learn from all of them. Even if you cannot participate in real-time conversation, if you go back and read the transcript by researching the hashtag, it affords a tremendous amount of growth.
 
You’ve had quite the varied career – working at different divisional levels. Talk about what you’ve taken from each of your professional stops along the way. 
 
Kambel: I have learned that working regardless of level within intercollegiate sport that you have dedicated student-athletes and coaches. The commitment to excellence that is put in on a daily basis does not waiver regardless of the job. The scholarship athlete to the non-scholarship athlete, there is a great deal of work being done by and for the student-athlete. 

In my first opportunity as a sports information intern at the Naval Academy, pre 9/11, I witnessed firsthand the dedication of the student-athletes and the coaches. It is that hard work that inspired me as a young sports information director. My parents instilled in me a strong work ethic and that was also evident in my co-workers which motivated me to be a better sports information director. I had my share of Sharpie™ ink to learn how to become better in some areas of my job, but I could have used it to deter me; however, I instead used it as a fuel to make me better. I often would take those revisions home with me as well as read, reflect and research how to do it better. I still have many of those revisions, and those articles as I have used them to teach and train my staff.

Another one of the lessons that I learned as an intern was the importance of deadlines and timelines. As an intern at Indiana University, Jeff Fanter, one of my mentors and bosses, produced a calendar filled with deadlines to get things done. I have worked diligently to integrate that into my personal but also in my professional life. It is this level of transparency that has allowed me to be successful, especially in a smaller sports information staff.

Lastly, I have always tried to look at ways to foster a culture of collaboration. How can I help my colleague in doing their job is a question that I ask myself often. Can I lend a hand with statistics? A photo? A note in the statistics? We are a sports information family and let us come together to help each other out.
 
If you were going to form the perfect athletic communications professional, name 3-5 traits or characteristics that today’s athletic communications pro should possess.

Kambel: The three characteristics that today’s athletic communications pro should have are to be SET; one – s (strategic); two – e (engaged); third – t (teamwork).

Being SET comes from the adage that you are ready or prepared to go forward in your endeavor. "Strategic" correlates to the concept of having both short-term and long-term goals as an individual and to the organization. What can you do in your day to day duties to contribute towards the goals? Are you helping recognize your own brand, and also your institution’s?

Next, "engaged" is important to know who and what you represent. I feel that you need to be engaged within your own family, but also to your organization towards its goals and objectives, internally and externally.

Lastly, in a sports culture, the importance of "teamwork" is paramount. As an athletics communication professional, our efforts are not measured by wins and losses, but we can contribute to our organization with a vital role. No role is too small for the individual and it is important to come alongside your administration, coaches and student-athletes to be successful.
 
I read where you are a member of the Columbus State Community College’s sport and exercise studies hall of fame … When were you recognized and why?

Kambel: It is not an athletic hall of fame, but it is the academic program that I graduated from in December 1996. I was recognized in June 2006 for what the selection committee deemed as success for what I have done since graduating. It ranks as one of my proudest accomplishments in my career.

The people that make up the Columbus State Community College Sport and Exercise Studies Program are the solid foundation for who and where I am today. The people at Columbus State Community College – Dr. Tom Habegger, Mr. Eric Welch, Ms. Johnna Kay, Mr. Don Laubenthal and my fellow Hall of Fame members – are a second family to me. Through the happiest of times – when being named a Sports Information Director – to the lowest of times – when my father passed away, they have always been there for me. I wouldn’t trade this honor for anything, it means that much to me.

As an athletics communicator, how do you measure success in your job? What is the most gratifying part of your position?

Kambel: I measure success by the ability to being able to come alongside our coaches, student-athletes and athletic administration to tell the story of our athletic department. The story of our athletic department is not just the wins and losses, but also the participation that intercollegiate athletics affords to them. The most gratifying part of my position is when I can walk around campus and by being told, “Hi Danny.” If they can take the time to learn my name, I can take the time to learn their name and tell their story effectively.

Welcome Back...

"Accept no one's definition of your life, define yourself." – Robert Frost

• Article of Interest - "If It Doesn’t Suck, It’s Not Worth Doing" •

For those of you, who are in transition, either personally or professionally, this quote is dedicated to you. Knowing yourself is one of the hardest lessons to acquire in life. Regardless of your age or stage of your life, there is bound to be some definition. Personally, I have had setbacks in my own journey that could have took me away from my goals and my aspirations. But, I went back to what I had defined myself and that is when I started to learn more about being SET - strategic; engaged; teamwork. The process of being strategic is something that I want to continue to learn but to also share. I recently read and agree that in the absence of being strategic makes people question their own goals and objectives to both themselves and to their organization. As a strategic communicator, how am I contributing to my organization and its goals as well as my own. The Merriam-Webster Dictionary definition says this about strategic, "useful or important in achieving a plan or strategy."As I continue to assess myself and share through this blog, I hope that you can find the reason to start on a plan. The plan to be strategic is built on the foundation of accountability and responsibility. As we start to head into 2017 and today being "Election Day,", what are doing in our personal time to be more strategic. What types of plans are we making? Are we making that one step forward towards our ambitions.I am going to start to put at the end of each blog, some job leads but I put out the disclaimer that I am doing this as a service to the job seeker and if you are a job holder and would like me to add it here, just e-mail it to me.

More on being STRATEGIC...

Anthony Rizzo - photo from http://fansided.com/

Last night for the first time since 1908, the Chicago Cubs (Major League Baseball) won the World Series. One of the key members of the Chicago Cubs team is first baseman Anthony Rizzo (Twitter: @ARizzo44).


But, here are some unknown facts was a non-roster invite to 2011 spring training with the San Diego Padres; in January 2012, he was traded to the Chicago Cubs; he is a three-time Major League Baseball Players Alumni Association Cubs Heart and Hustle Award recipient (2013, 2015, 2016).

However, one of the most unknown facts about Rizzo is that he was drafted by the Boston Red Sox in 2007 and found out he had Hodgkins Lymphoma.

Why am I sharing the story of Anthony Rizzo? Read this story.
• He is dedicated to Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida
• He wrote in his senior yearbook that one of his goals was to win the MLB World Series.

I haven't met Mr. Rizzo, yet, but I can assure he had goals 

and was SET (Strategic | Engaged | Teamwork). 

Let's Get SET

and make a difference, one task; one day at a time.

Find me on Instagram: @DKambel

Find me on Twitter: @DannyKambel
Follow the Hashtag conversation: #GetSET

What is strategic?

John Wooden

John Wooden provided wisdom that will continue to transcend generations and experiences. This is one of his many great quotes of wisdom. As you start to read more of the #GetSET blog, you're going to see a lot of his wisdom. Today, we start to examine, "What is strategic?"

“When you improve a little each day, eventually big things occur…. Not tomorrow, not the next day, but eventually a big gain is made. Don’t look for the big, quick improvement. Seek the small improvement one day at a time. That’s the only way it happens — and when it happens, it lasts.”

This quote illustrates the importance of being strategic. A parallel to this is the need to have goals. I have been reading and reflecting on the importance of having goals for both our personal and professional lives. It was in my third week of college at Columbus State Community College that I first put my goals on paper to be a Sports Information Director. Not just an intern, nor an assistant director but a Sports Information Director. The work that it took to get to those goals is something that took a lot of small steps both as an individual and as a professional. If you don't have your goals before you and someone to hold you accountable, you are lacking in the area of being strategic. As you embark in your journey - both personal and professional - it is important to have your goals in written form but also to have accountability and responsibility to them.

Definition of Strategic - relating to the identification of long-term or overall aims and interests and the means of achieving them.

Here's an article by friend, Dr. Coyte Cooper wrote in July 2015 on "5 Questions You Must Ask to Set High Goals" Visit https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/5-questions-you-must-ask-set-hig`h-impact-goals-coyte-cooper.

If you have time, you should consider reading his two books - Impressions: The Power of Personal Branding in Living and Extraordinary Life and Make Your Mark: Remarkable Lives Are Not An Accident. They Are Earned. Here's How.

Let's Get SET

and make a difference, one task; one day at a time.

Find me on Instagram: @DKambel

Find me on Twitter: @DannyKambel

 Follow the Hashtag conversation: #GetSET

Welcome...

November 1, 2016

In June 2016, I launched my personal brand of SET (Strategic • Engaged • Teamwork) in conjunction with my permanent job as the Sports Information Director at LeTourneau University, a NCAA Division III institution in Longview, Texas.

Since launching the brand, I have relocated to Pacific University (www.goboxers.com | www.pacificu.edu) and with a new job as the Sports Information Director, a NCAA Division III institution in Forest Grove, Oregon.

This is my career map for those, who are new to this blog.

Dates: 1994-1997 

Employer: Columbus State Community College

Title: Assistant to the Athletic Director

Date: Summer 1996 

Employer: Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games

Title: Sports Information Center Volunteer

Dates: 1997-1999

Employer: University of Toledo

Title: Sports Information Student Intern

Dates: 1999-2000

Employer: Naval Academy Athletic Association

Title: Sports Information Intern

Dates: 2000-01

Employer: Indiana University

Title: Staff Assistant in Media Relations Office

Dates: 2001-03

Employer: Indiana State University

Title: Assistant Athletic Media Relations Director

Dates: 2003-06

Employer: Florida International University

Title: Media Relations Coordinator

Dates: 2006-10

Employer: Texas A&M University-Commerce

Title: Sports Information Director

Dates: 2010-12

Employer: University of Wisconsin-Platteville

Title: Sports Information Director

Dates: 2013-16

Employer: LeTourneau University

Title: Sports Information Director

Dates: 2016-present

Employer: Pacific University

Title: Sports Information Director

•• This is a relaunch to my blog, where I will pass along job leads, job networking and seeking advice from various entities as well as my personal experiences. ••

As you begin to decide, whether or not to bookmark this blog or not, consider what it means to be SET

Strategic - relating to the identification of long-term or overall aims and interests and the means of achieving them.

Engaged - to occupy the attention or efforts of (a person or persons); to secure for aid, employment, use, etc.; hire

Teamwork - the combined action of a group of people, when effective and efficient.

Let's Get SET and make a difference, one task; one day at a time.

Find me on Instagram: @DKambel
Find me on Twitter: @DannyKambel
 Follow the Hashtag conversation: #GetSET

Priorities

"...a leader’s time follows her priorities. If our priorities are disordered we will mismanage our schedule. If you’re feeling crunched for time, don't focus on greater efficiency. Instead, evaluate your priorities." - John Maxwell

For the last 16 years of my life, my priorities have centered on my family and my career. As I transition into this next stage of my life, I have started to examine  my priorities. Am I being accountable and  responsible?

Maxwell says, "How often do you think intentionally about your priorities?? If you want to maximize your effectiveness in the things that matter the most in your life, then you should take time to consider two things:

1. Your ideal priorities:  What do you value and believe you should be doing with your time?
2. Your actual priorities: How did you spend the last 24 hours, the last month during the weekday and on weekends? What are the last ten transactions in your bank account? Who are the top five people listed in your recent calls on your phone?

The responses to these two questions will help you develop a clear understanding of the gap between where you are today and where you’d really like to be."

--

I hope as you've read this excerpt from John Maxwell has got you to think about your own priorities. The complete article is available on his blog at http://blog.johnmaxwell.com/tjmc/work-smarter-not-harder-how-your-priorities-can-change-your-life?utm_campaign=John+Maxwell+Presents&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz--0vH4MO-D3oATsPJuRGKhlahfJOHt1iT3Wj_VfsEy4kQUl7jYNndijy-3mHqD2gEuEYzYyoUcr_6bCVlR-neUO51wbuw&_hsmi=31634765&utm_content=31634765&utm_source=hs_email&hsCtaTracking=2d5794ad-828f-479f-9cda-49618d2cb25f%7C72d12488-2014-459f-9fca-225fbc62ec49

Articles of Interest for June 4, 2016

8 Ways Smart People Use Failure to Their Advantage 

Jim Rohn: The Major Key to Your Best Future Is You

11 Habits You Should Definitely Steal From Ultraproductive People

Reflection for April 24, 2016

So beginning today, take even better care of yourself. Produce work that fuels your best self. Be with people who inspire [and rejuvenate] you. Make time to rest, exercise, meditate, walk in nature, keep a journal and study (no, devour) books that reveal new territories of unimaginable possibilities. 

The picture below is the LeTourneau softball team after its practice, last week.

Quote from Chalene Johnson: "Your life is profound transformed by the people you CHOOSE to invest time, love, support, honesty and belief in."

Update for March 24, 2016

On Thursday, March 31 at 2 p.m. (CST), Bill Dyer, Associate Director of Athletic Communications at Virginia Tech, Marlene Navor, Director of Athletic Communications at College of Charleston, Lisa Stromeier from Creating Choices for Health and myself will be hosting a conference call through CoSIDA (College Sports Information Directors of America) on Job Seeking/Career Advancement.

Articles of Interest (Mar. 23, 2016)

Articles of Interest

• Strategies to help job candidates find the right fit (Inside HigherEd)
• 5 Ways to Streamline a Job Search (U.S. News and World Report)
• 7 Ingredients for a Successful Job Search Recipe (U.S. News and World Report)
• 4 Simple Ways to be More Original and Satisfied at Work (Inc.)