Love Leaves More Than Memories (August 3, 2026)

Today would have been my parents' anniversary - they were married on August 3, 1968.

For many people, an anniversary is marked with flowers, dinner reservations, and the opportunity to celebrate another year together. For our family, it looks a little different. My father passed away on October 1, 2009, so there isn't a card to sign or a dinner to share.

Instead, there is reflection.

As the years have passed, I've realized something I never fully understood when I was younger.

Love leaves more than memories.

It leaves values.

It leaves traditions.

It leaves examples.

It leaves a way of treating people that quietly becomes part of who we are.

As a child, I didn't recognize the countless sacrifices my parents made. I didn't notice the small acts of kindness, the compromises, or the daily commitment that held our family together. Like most kids, I simply assumed those things would always be there.

It wasn't until I became an adult that I began to appreciate what I had been witnessing all along.

And it wasn't until I became a husband that I truly understood it.

Marriage has a way of changing your perspective.

You begin to realize that lasting relationships aren't built on grand gestures. They're built on ordinary days. They're built on conversations after long workdays, choosing patience over pride, extending grace when it's needed most, and deciding—day after day—that your commitment matters more than convenience.

Those are lessons my parents taught me without ever sitting me down to explain them.

They simply lived them.

Dad has now been gone for more than a decade and a half, yet I still find myself wishing I could tell him about the life that's unfolded since he left. I'd love to tell him about my career, the people I've been fortunate to mentor, and the opportunities I've been blessed to experience.

Most of all, I'd want to tell him about Charlene.

I'd want him to know the incredible woman I married. I'd tell him about her heart, her strength, and the way she makes every day better simply by being herself. I think he would have loved watching us build a life together, and I know I would have cherished seeing the two of them get to know each other.

While that opportunity never came, something else did.

The example he and my mom gave me continues to shape the marriage Charlene and I are building today.

Every time we choose to communicate instead of assume, support instead of criticize, or encourage instead of discourage, I can see pieces of what my parents modeled years ago.

That may be the greatest gift they ever gave me.

Not possessions.

Not accomplishments.

An example.

Legacy isn't measured by what we leave behind on a shelf.

It's measured by what lives on in the people we love.

The patience we show.

The integrity we practice.

The compassion we extend.

The faithfulness we demonstrate when no one else is watching.

Those things don't disappear when we're gone. They become part of someone else's story.

Today, I'm grateful for my parents' marriage.

I'm grateful for my mom, whose strength has carried our family through seasons neither of us would have chosen.

I'm grateful for my dad, whose influence continues to guide me, even though our conversations now take place only in my memories.

And I'm grateful that Charlene and I have the opportunity to continue building a legacy of our own—one day, one choice, and one act of love at a time.

Love leaves more than memories.

If we're fortunate, it leaves people who know how to love a little better because of the example we set.

As I reflect on my parents' anniversary today, that's the question I find myself asking:

What kind of legacy will our love leave behind?

The Ugly Phase Is Part of the Process (July 31, 2026)

 There comes a point in almost every career when you wonder if you're making any progress.

You apply for jobs and hear nothing back.

You start a new role and suddenly feel like you know less than everyone else.

You launch a business, publish content, or begin networking, only to question whether any of it is working.

If that sounds familiar, you're not alone.

I recently read an insightful article from Korn Ferry titled "The Ugly Phase: Can You Survive It?" It describes the uncomfortable period between being a beginner and becoming proficient. It's that season when you've left the comfort of what you know, but you haven't yet reached confidence in what's next.

The article reminded me of something I've seen throughout my 27 years in college athletics communications.

Every successful professional I've met has gone through an ugly phase.

The graduate assistant learning to manage media relations for the first time.

The first-year athletic communications director trying to juggle multiple sports.

The coach taking over a struggling program.

The student preparing for their first job interview.

The entrepreneur launching a new idea before anyone knows their name.

No one skips this stage.

The difference isn't talent.

It's persistence.

Don't Mistake Discomfort for Failure

When things feel awkward, many people assume they're doing something wrong.

In reality, you're probably doing something new.

Growth almost always feels uncomfortable before it feels rewarding.

That's why the people who succeed continue asking questions, seeking mentors, building relationships, and improving one day at a time.

Confidence isn't something you wait to feel.

It's something you earn through repetition.

My Challenge to You

If you're in your own ugly phase today, don't quit because the path feels difficult.

Instead, ask yourself:

• What am I learning?
• Who can help me improve?
• What can I do better tomorrow than I did today?

Small improvements create remarkable careers.

Continue Reading

The Korn Ferry article provides additional research and insights into why this stage is so important for long-term success.

👉 Read it here:
https://www.kornferry.com/insights/briefings-magazine/issue-74/the-ugly-phase-can-you-survive-it

You may be in the ugly phase today.

That doesn't mean you're failing.

It may simply mean you're becoming the professional you're meant to be.

Day Two (July 28, 2026)

Day One at Spartanburg Methodist College

Day One (July 27, 2026)

 I love the parallel between these two events. One marks the beginning of a new athletic year. The other celebrates someone who has been part of your own journey. Both are reminders that the most meaningful things in life don't happen overnight—they're built one day at a time.

Today is Day One.

Across the country, campuses are coming to life as student-athletes move into residence halls, reconnect with teammates, and begin preparing for another season. Here at Spartanburg Methodist College, today marks the arrival of our fall sports student-athletes.

For many, it's the beginning of a college career.

For others, it's another opportunity to build on what they've already started.

Every one of them arrives carrying something different.

Excitement.

Hope.

Nervousness.

Expectations.

Dreams.

None of them know exactly what the next several months will bring.

And that's part of what makes today so special.

Today is also special for another reason.

It's my wife Charlene's birthday.

As I thought about welcoming a new group of student-athletes while celebrating another year of life with Char, I realized these two moments have something in common.

Both remind us that the best things in life are built one day at a time.

Every Journey Has a Day One

No championship begins with a trophy.

No graduate begins with a diploma.

No successful marriage begins with decades of memories.

Every meaningful accomplishment begins with a single day.

Day One.

Student-athletes don't become leaders because they put on a uniform.

They become leaders through the choices they make every practice, every class, every workout, and every conversation.

Relationships don't become strong because two people say, "I do."

They become strong through thousands of ordinary moments—encouraging each other, overcoming challenges, celebrating victories, and choosing each other again tomorrow.

The same is true of careers.

Your first day won't define your career.

But it will begin shaping it.

Start Before You're Ready

Many people spend their lives waiting for the perfect moment.

The perfect opportunity.

The perfect job.

The perfect circumstances.

Life rarely works that way.

Growth begins the moment you decide to start.

That's true for a freshman walking onto campus today.

It's true for a first-year coach.

It's true for a young professional applying for their first internship.

And it's true for every one of us, no matter where we are in life.

My Perspective

One of the greatest gifts college athletics has given me is perspective.

Every August feels like a fresh start.

New faces.

New stories.

New opportunities.

Every year reminds me why I fell in love with this profession.

At the same time, celebrating another birthday with Char reminds me that some of life's greatest accomplishments don't show up on a résumé.

They're found in the relationships we invest in.

The people who believe in us.

The people who challenge us.

The people who celebrate with us when no one else is watching.

If I've learned anything over the years, it's this:

Success is important.

Relationships make success meaningful.

Put It Into Practice

Today, think about your own Day One.

Maybe it's your first internship.

Maybe it's your first class.

Maybe it's your first job.

Or maybe it's simply deciding today to become more intentional than you were yesterday.

Whatever your Day One is...

Treat it like it matters.

Because one day you'll look back and realize it was the beginning of something much bigger than you imagined.

Reflection

Twenty years from now, what will you remember about today?

The tasks you completed?

Or the people whose lives you impacted?

The seasons eventually end.

The relationships often don't.

Welcome back to another year of college athletics.

Happy Birthday, Char.

And to everyone beginning something new today...

Make your Day One count.

You never get another one.

Stay Connected.

Success Leaves Clues. Start Paying Attention (July 21, 2026)

Today marked the beginning of another athletic year for me as the Assistant Athletic Director for Sports Communications at Spartanburg Methodist College.

Like many departments across the country, our coaches and staff gathered before our student-athletes return in the coming days. We talked about culture, expectations, and the year ahead.

One exercise stood out.

Each of us was asked to create a life timeline.

We identified the moments that shaped who we are—the victories, the disappointments, the people who influenced us, and the experiences that changed our direction.

Because of the size of the group and the limited time we had together, I wasn't able to share my entire timeline.

As I reflected afterward, I realized something.

My career makes much more sense looking backward than it ever did looking forward.

None of It Was Wasted

When I was a student at Columbus State Community College, I had no idea where the next 25-plus years would take me.

There wasn't a master plan.

There wasn't a roadmap that guaranteed success.

There were simply opportunities.

Some I pursued.

Some I missed.

Some I never saw coming.

Every internship...

Every late night at a sporting event...

Every mentor...

Every mistake...

Every difficult conversation...

Every championship...

Every setback...

Each became another point on my timeline.

Individually, they didn't seem life-changing.

Collectively, they became my career.

That's why I believe something I've heard for years:

Success leaves clues.

You just have to start paying attention.

The Clues Are Everywhere

One of the biggest mistakes young professionals make is believing success is hidden.

It isn't.

The clues are everywhere.

Watch how great athletic communicators prepare for game day.

Notice how they write.

Observe how they handle pressure when something unexpected happens.

Listen carefully to how they communicate with coaches, administrators, officials, photographers, broadcasters, and student-athletes.

Pay attention to what they do after everyone else has gone home.

Their habits are teaching you something.

Their consistency is teaching you something.

Even their mistakes are teaching you something.

If you're willing to observe, every day becomes another opportunity to learn.

Borrow Experience Before You Have It

One of the fastest ways to grow your career is to learn from people who are already doing the job you hope to have.

Ask questions.

Request informational interviews.

Volunteer at conferences.

Shadow someone for a day.

Read articles written by experienced professionals.

Study press releases, feature stories, social media strategies, game notes, and websites from departments you admire.

Don't copy them.

Understand why they make the decisions they make.

The best professionals aren't just producing content.

They're solving problems.

When you understand how experienced professionals think, you'll begin solving problems differently yourself.

My Perspective

Looking back at my own timeline, I can point to dozens of people who changed my career without realizing it.

Some were supervisors.

Some were coworkers.

Some were competitors.

Some were people I only met once.

Each left behind a clue.

Sometimes it was a conversation.

Sometimes it was constructive criticism.

Sometimes it was simply watching them work.

Those moments continue to shape how I lead, communicate, and mentor today.

That's why I believe mentorship doesn't always happen in scheduled meetings.

Sometimes it happens simply because you're paying attention.

Put It Into Practice

This week, create the first version of your own career timeline.

It doesn't need to be perfect.

Include the moments that have shaped you so far.

The people who influenced you.

The opportunities that stretched you.

The setbacks that taught you something.

Then ask yourself one question:

What clues have those experiences already given me?

You may discover that you're much further along than you think.

Reflection

Who is one professional you admire?

Not because of their title.

Not because of their awards.

Because of the way they consistently approach their work.

This week, pay attention to how they communicate, prepare, lead, and serve others.

Success rarely announces itself.

It leaves clues.

The people who grow the fastest are the ones who notice them.

Stay Connected.

Be Curious Before You Try to Be Impressive (July 20, 2026)

Why Questions Often Create Better Opportunities Than Answers

Most students believe they need to have all the right answers before they can earn an internship, land a job, or build meaningful relationships.

They spend hours trying to sound smarter, more experienced, or more accomplished than they actually feel.

But here's something I have learned after more than 25 years in college athletics:

The people who leave the strongest impression usually aren't the ones doing all the talking. They're the ones asking the best questions.

Curiosity is one of the most underrated career skills you can develop.

At First Glance

Think about the last conversation you had with someone you admired.

Were you trying to impress them?

Or were you trying to learn from them?

There's a big difference.

One approach focuses on yourself.

The other focuses on the other person.

People remember how interested you were in them far longer than they remember how much you talked about yourself.

Why This Matters

Whether you're interviewing for an internship, attending a conference, networking on LinkedIn, or sitting across from a hiring manager, curiosity changes the conversation.

Instead of trying to prove you're qualified, you're trying to understand.

Instead of trying to sound perfect, you're trying to grow.

That mindset immediately makes you more authentic.

Hiring managers don't expect college students to know everything.

They do expect them to be coachable.

And coachable people ask questions.

Questions like:

• What does success look like during the first six months?
• What separates your best interns from everyone else?
• If you could teach every new employee one thing, what would it be?
• What's one challenge your department is working through right now?

Those questions communicate something powerful:

"I'm here to learn."

That attitude is difficult to teach.

Confidence Isn't Something You Find—It's Something You Build (July 16, 2026)

Before I get into today's topic, I need to share something that happened this morning

I hit the snooze button on my alarm clock.

A few minutes later, I heard the familiar ding of an email notification. It was a message from my boss.

For many people, those are ordinary moments. For me, they haven't always been.

Throughout my career in college athletics, something as simple as an email notification or an unexpected phone call from a supervisor could instantly raise my anxiety. My mind would race.

"Did I make a mistake?"

"Did I forget something?"

"Am I about to be criticized?"

Those thoughts chipped away at my confidence over time.

It wasn't until I made a commitment to work on myself—through mentorship, counseling, honest reflection, and learning to challenge those thoughts—that I began to notice a change. Those same sounds haven't disappeared, but my response to them has.

That experience taught me something I wish I had learned much earlier.

Confidence isn't something you suddenly wake up with.

It's something you build.

One of the most common questions I hear from students and young professionals is, "How do I become more confident?"

My answer usually surprises them.

You don't become confident first.

You become confident because of what you repeatedly do.

Many people believe confidence magically appears after landing the internship, getting the graduate assistantship, or accepting their first full-time position. The reality is much different. Confidence is built long before those milestones ever happen.

It's built through preparation.

It's built through repetition.

It's built by keeping the promises you make to yourself.

Confidence Is Earned in Small Moments

Think about the people you've met who carry themselves with confidence. They probably don't know everything, and they certainly haven't avoided failure. What they have done is accumulate hundreds—if not thousands—of small victories.

They show up early.

They send the follow-up email.

They ask thoughtful questions during meetings.

They volunteer for projects that stretch their abilities.

They learn new skills.

They introduce themselves to people they admire.

None of those moments seem significant on their own. Together, they create a foundation that makes bigger opportunities feel less intimidating.

Confidence isn't built in one defining moment.

It's built one decision at a time.

Stop Waiting to Feel Ready

One of the biggest mistakes I see is waiting until confidence arrives before taking action.

"I'll reach out when I'm more confident."

"I'll apply after I get more experience."

"I'll introduce myself once I know more people."

The problem is that confidence doesn't come before action.

It follows action.

Every successful athletic administrator, coach, communicator, and leader has experienced self-doubt. The difference is they chose to act anyway.

Action builds confidence.

Waiting rarely does.

My Perspective

When I started my career in athletic communications, I didn't walk into my first media interview believing I had everything figured out.

I learned by preparing.

By making mistakes.

By asking questions.

By showing up again the next day.

Over more than 25 years, I've learned that confidence isn't the absence of uncertainty. It's trusting that you've prepared yourself to handle whatever comes next.

Even today, I'm still building that confidence.

Put It Into Practice

This week, identify one small action you've been avoiding because you're waiting to feel more confident.

Maybe it's introducing yourself to someone in your profession.

Scheduling an informational interview.

Asking your supervisor for more responsibility.

Attending a networking event.

Publishing something you've been hesitant to share.

Or volunteering for a project that's outside your comfort zone.

Don't choose the biggest challenge.

Choose the next challenge.

Then do it again.

Small wins create lasting confidence.

Reflection

What's one action you've been putting off because you've been waiting to feel confident enough to take it?

I'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments.

Stay Connected

Confidence isn't something someone else can give you.

It grows every time you choose preparation over excuses.

Every time you take action instead of waiting.

Every time you prove to yourself that you're capable of more than you believed yesterday.

Keep showing up.

One small win at a time.

Your Reputation Is Being Built Before You Apply (July 15, 2026)

Most students believe their professional reputation begins the day they submit a résumé.

It doesn't.

By the time you apply for your first job, people may already have an opinion about the kind of teammate, employee, and professional you'll become.

Every interaction matters.

The way you answer emails.

How you treat event staff after a long day.

Whether you show up on time.

How you respond when someone offers feedback.

What you post on social media.

How you handle a task that no one else wants to do.

These moments may seem insignificant, but together they tell a story about who you are.

Long before someone reads your résumé, they're paying attention to your reputation.

Reputation Is Built in the Small Moments

In college athletics, relationships are everything.

Our profession is smaller than most people realize. Coaches change schools. Athletic communicators recommend former interns. Graduate assistants become directors. Supervisors become conference commissioners. The people you meet today may influence opportunities you haven't even imagined.

That's why every interaction deserves your best.

The student worker who helps set up a volleyball match.

The photographer on the sideline.

The facilities crew cleaning the gym after everyone leaves.

The visiting sports information director.

The official statistician.

Treat every person with respect. You never know who will remember the way you made them feel.

People Remember More Than Your Work

Strong work matters.

Character matters more.

I've never heard someone say, "We hired them because they had the most impressive LinkedIn profile."

I have heard people say:

"They're dependable."

"They always followed through."

"They're easy to work with."

"I'd hire them again in a heartbeat."

Those comments don't appear on a résumé, but they often determine who gets the interview.

Your reputation is your professional reference long before anyone calls your references.

Danny's Perspective

Throughout my career, some of the most meaningful opportunities came through relationships that had been built years earlier.

Not because I asked for a favor.

Not because I had the perfect résumé.

But because someone remembered how I approached my work.

They remembered that I tried to be prepared.

They remembered that I followed through on commitments.

They remembered that I treated people with respect.

That reinforced something I've believed for years:

Your reputation is never built during one big moment.

It's built through hundreds of ordinary interactions where you consistently choose professionalism, humility, and reliability.

Put It Into Practice

For the next week, approach every interaction with intention.

Reply to emails promptly.

Thank the people working behind the scenes.

Arrive a few minutes early.

Be fully present in conversations.

Finish every task the way you'd want your future employer to see it.

None of these actions require special talent.

They simply require consistency.

Reflection

Think about the last five people you interacted with in a professional setting.

If each of them were asked to describe you in one sentence, what would they say?

Would they describe someone they'd confidently recommend?

Or someone who still has work to do?

Every conversation...

Every email...

Every handshake...

Every game...

Every meeting...

They're all helping write your professional story.

Make sure it's a story worth telling.

Because your reputation isn't built when you apply.

It's being built today.

Stay Connected

Your Degree Opened the Door. Your Habits Will Keep It Open. (July 14, 2026)

Congratulations. You earned the degree.

That diploma represents years of classes, projects, internships, late nights, and sacrifices. You should be proud of it.

But here's something every student and young professional needs to hear:

Your degree may help you get an interview. Your habits will determine how far you go once you're hired.

I've worked in college athletics for more than 25 years. During that time, I've watched talented people build incredible careers, and I've seen equally talented people struggle to gain momentum.

The difference usually isn't intelligence.

It isn't where they went to school.

It isn't even who they know.

More often than not, it's the habits they practice every single day.

The Habits Employers Notice

Think about the people you enjoy working with. Chances are they aren't the loudest people in the office or the ones constantly talking about how busy they are.

They're the people who consistently follow through.

They arrive prepared.

They meet deadlines.

They communicate when plans change.

They ask thoughtful questions.

They take ownership when something goes wrong.

They don't wait to be reminded.

Those actions may seem small on their own, but over weeks and months they build something every employer is looking for: trust.

Trust is earned one decision at a time.

Consistency Beats Occasional Greatness

Many young professionals believe they have to do something extraordinary to stand out.

The reality is much simpler.

Showing up prepared every day is extraordinary.

Returning emails promptly is extraordinary.

Taking accurate notes is extraordinary.

Following up after a meeting is extraordinary.

Helping a teammate without being asked is extraordinary.

Not because these actions are difficult.

Because they're consistent.

Anyone can have one great day.

The professionals who build lasting careers are the ones who repeat good habits long after the excitement of a new job has worn off.

Danny's Perspective

When I think back over my career, very few opportunities came because I was the smartest person in the room.

They came because people knew they could count on me.

They knew I would communicate.

They knew I would finish what I started.

They knew I would represent their institution professionally.

That trust wasn't built overnight. It was earned through hundreds of ordinary days where I simply tried to do the right things consistently.

Looking back, those ordinary days shaped my career far more than any single accomplishment.

Put It Into Practice

Choose one professional habit to improve this week.

Maybe it's arriving ten minutes early.

Maybe it's responding to every email within 24 hours.

Maybe it's writing tomorrow's to-do list before leaving work.

Don't try to change everything at once.

Master one habit.

Then build another.

Small improvements repeated consistently become the foundation of a successful career.

Reflection

If your future supervisor asked your current coworkers or professors to describe your daily habits, what would they say?

Would they describe someone who is dependable, prepared, and consistent?

Or would they describe someone with potential who hasn't yet developed the habits that build trust?

Your answer to that question may tell you more about your future than your GPA ever will.

Your degree opened the door.

The habits you choose today will determine how many more doors open tomorrow.

Stay Connected.

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.

---

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.

You Can't Grow Into Someone You Don't Know (June 17, 2026)

You have to know who you are to grow to your potential." — John C. Maxwell

One of the biggest mistakes professionals make isn't a lack of talent.

It isn't a lack of experience.

It isn't even a lack of opportunity.

It's a lack of clarity.

John C. Maxwell's quote stopped me in my tracks because it reinforces something I've written about throughout this blog and something that sits at my heart.

You cannot intentionally build a career if you don't intentionally understand yourself first.

Before You Network, Know Yourself

Many people approach networking with one question:

"Who should I meet?"

I believe there's a better question.

"Who am I becoming?"

If you don't know your strengths, your values, what energizes you, or the problems you're uniquely equipped to solve, every networking conversation becomes transactional instead of transformational.

People remember clarity.

They struggle to remember confusion.

That's why the most effective professionals don't simply collect contacts. They build relationships around a clear understanding of who they are and where they're headed.

Experience Doesn't Equal Identity

I've written often that experience alone doesn't create opportunity.

Impact does.

The same is true with identity.

Your résumé tells people where you've been.

Your identity tells people where you're capable of going.

Those are not always the same thing.

I've met professionals with twenty years of experience who still couldn't clearly answer:

• What am I known for?
• What problem do I solve better than others?
• Why would someone choose to work with me?
• What kind of teammate do I want to become?

Those answers matter more than another line on a résumé.

This Is Why I Have This Blog

I write this blog because it isn't just about helping someone land a job.

It's about helping them discover direction.

Career growth begins long before an interview.

It begins with understanding your story.

Knowing your values.

Recognizing your strengths.

Building genuine relationships.

Creating a reputation that speaks before you enter the room.

Networking without clarity is simply collecting business cards.

Networking with clarity builds a career.

Whether you're a college student, graduate assistant, intern, first-time sports communicator, or someone wondering what's next after years in the profession, the starting point remains the same.

Know yourself.

Then connect with purpose.

Growth Is an Inside Job

Every season of your career asks a different question.

Early on, it asks, "What can you do?"

Later it asks, "Who can you lead?"

Eventually it asks something even more important.

"Do you know who you are?"

Because your greatest potential will never be determined solely by your skills.

It will be determined by how well you understand the person using those skills.

That is why Maxwell's quote is so powerful.

You have to know who you are to grow to your potential.

Everything else—your network, your opportunities, your influence, and your career—grows from there.

---

Reflection

Before asking, "What's my next opportunity?" ask yourself these three questions:

1. What am I consistently known for?
2. What unique value do I bring to others?
3. Does my network know me for the person I want to become, or only the job I currently hold?

Those questions may be the beginning of your next chapter.

And they're exactly where meaningful connection begins.

The Difference Between a Contact and a Connection (June 16, 2026)

Your Network Isn't Your Contacts List

If I asked you how many people are in your professional network, you could probably give me a number.

Maybe it's your LinkedIn connections.

Maybe it's the business cards you've collected over the years.

Maybe it's the people you've met at conventions, workshops, and conferences.

But here's a tougher question:

How many of those people would take your call tomorrow?

For many professionals in college athletics, the answer is far smaller than they would like to admit.

That's because a network and a contacts list are not the same thing.

A contacts list is a collection of names.

A network is a collection of relationships.

And relationships are what create career momentum.

The Networking Mistake Most Professionals Make

Many professionals treat networking as an event.

They attend a conference.

Exchange business cards.

Connect on LinkedIn.

Maybe send one follow-up message.

Then they move on.

Months later, when they need career advice, a recommendation, or help identifying an opportunity, they suddenly attempt to reconnect.

The challenge is that relationships require investment before they produce value.

The strongest professional relationships are built long before they are needed.

Career Advancement Happens Through Trust

Job descriptions matter.

Experience matters.

Skills matter.

But trust matters, too.

In college athletics, opportunities are often created through conversations.

People recommend professionals they know.

People advocate for professionals they trust.

People open doors for professionals who have consistently shown up, provided value, and invested in the relationship.

That doesn't happen overnight.

It happens through intentional communication and genuine connection.

Mentorship Is More Than Advice

One of the biggest misconceptions in professional development is that mentorship begins when someone officially becomes your mentor.

The reality is that mentorship often begins with curiosity.

A question.

A conversation.

A willingness to learn.

Some of the most impactful mentors in a career never carry the title of mentor at all.

They simply invest in others through conversations, encouragement, perspective, and honest feedback.

The professionals who advance most effectively are often the ones who consistently seek those conversations.

Relationships Create Career Clarity

Many professionals believe they need a new job.

Sometimes they do.

But often what they really need is clarity.

Clarity about their strengths.

Clarity about their goals.

Clarity about what comes next.

Meaningful conversations can provide that clarity faster than hours of scrolling job boards.

The right conversation can reveal opportunities you didn't know existed.

The right mentor can help you see strengths you've overlooked.

The right connection can change the trajectory of your career.

My Philosophy

One of my core beliefs is simple:

No college athletics professional should have to navigate their career journey alone.

The goal is not simply to help people find jobs.

The goal is to help people build sustainable careers.

That happens through intentional relationships.

It happens through mentorship.

It happens through professional development.

It happens through creating a community where people are willing to learn from one another and invest in one another's success.

Final Thoughts

At some point in your career, someone opened a door for you.

Someone answered a question.

Someone gave you advice.

Someone made an introduction.

Someone believed in you before you fully believed in yourself.

The best way to honor that investment is to do the same for someone else.

Your network isn't your contacts list.

It's the people who know you, trust you, support you, challenge you, and help you grow.

Those relationships may become the most valuable asset your career will ever have.

The Discipline of Appreciation (June 15, 2026)

"The aim of life is appreciation; there is no sense in not appreciating things; and there is no sense in having more of them if you have less appreciation of them." — G.K. Chesterton

As professionals, we are often conditioned to focus on what comes next.

The next game.

The next hire.

The next promotion.

The next conference.

The next opportunity.

The next challenge.

In athletic communications, the calendar never truly stops. As soon as one season ends, another begins. There is always another story to tell, another graphic to create, another deadline to meet, and another goal to pursue.

Ambition is not a bad thing. Growth is important. Advancement matters.

But Chesterton's quote serves as a reminder that achievement without appreciation can leave us feeling perpetually empty.

Many professionals spend years chasing the next rung on the ladder without ever pausing to appreciate how far they have already climbed.

Appreciation Is a Leadership Skill

When we think about leadership, we often think about vision, strategy, communication, and decision-making.

Yet appreciation may be one of the most overlooked leadership skills.

Appreciation changes how we see our teams.

It reminds us to notice the student worker who consistently shows up early.

It reminds us to thank the coach who always returns a call.

It reminds us to celebrate the colleague who quietly solves problems behind the scenes.

It reminds us to recognize mentors who invested in us long before anyone else saw our potential.

People who feel appreciated often become more engaged, more committed, and more willing to invest in others.

Appreciation Creates Perspective

One of the challenges of career development is that comparison often steals contentment.

We compare our title to someone else's.

We compare our salary to someone else's.

We compare our institution to someone else's.

We compare our career timeline to someone else's.

In doing so, we lose sight of our own journey.

The truth is that many of the things we once prayed for, hoped for, or worked tirelessly to achieve have become so familiar that we barely notice them anymore.

Think about your first full-time position.

Think about your first press credential.

Think about your first conference presentation.

Think about the first time someone asked for your advice.

Those moments were milestones.

Today they may simply feel routine.

Appreciation helps us rediscover the significance of experiences that familiarity has diminished.

More Is Not Always Better

Our culture often teaches that happiness comes from accumulation.

More followers.

More responsibilities.

More recognition.

More resources.

More opportunities.

But Chesterton points out a powerful truth: having more means very little if our ability to appreciate decreases along the way.

A larger office does not guarantee fulfillment.

A bigger budget does not guarantee satisfaction.

A more impressive title does not guarantee purpose.

Sometimes the issue is not that we need more.

Sometimes the issue is that we need to appreciate more.

The Practice of Appreciation

Appreciation is not a feeling we wait for.

It is a discipline we choose.

It looks like sending a thank-you note.

It looks like acknowledging a mentor.

It looks like celebrating a student's growth.

It looks like pausing after a successful event and recognizing the people who made it happen.

It looks like ending the day by identifying what went right instead of focusing solely on what went wrong.

The professionals who sustain long careers are often not the ones who achieve the most. They are the ones who learn to appreciate the journey while they are living it.

Final Thoughts

As I reflect on my own career, I realize that some of the greatest blessings were not the championships, awards, titles, or milestones.

They were the people.

The mentors who opened doors.

The colleagues who became friends.

The students who taught me as much as I taught them.

The opportunities that stretched me.

The lessons that shaped me.

The memories that remain long after the deadlines have passed.

Growth is valuable.

Achievement is worthwhile.

But appreciation gives both of them meaning.

Before you focus on what's next, take a moment to appreciate what is already here.

You may discover that some of life's greatest gifts have been in front of you all along.

---

Reflection

Don't let the pursuit of more cause you to overlook the value of what you already have.

Appreciation doesn't slow progress.

It gives purpose to the journey.

Reflection: Experience Is Not the Same as Impact (June 11, 2026)

Mary Southern's article, "You Spent 20 Years Building a Career. They Rejected You for It," highlights a reality many experienced professionals face: years of experience alone are not always enough if employers cannot quickly connect that experience to the specific problems they need solved.

The article challenges the assumption that more years automatically create more opportunities. Instead, it emphasizes the importance of positioning, clarity, and effectively communicating value.

That message aligns closely with many of the themes I strive to address through this blog.

The Connection

One of the recurring themes throughout this blog is that experience alone does not create opportunity—impact does.

Whether the topic is career advancement, convention networking, resume development, leadership, or personal growth, the underlying message remains the same:

Don't just tell people what you did. Show them the difference you made.

In athletic communications, it is easy to build a resume that lists responsibilities:

• Managed social media

• Wrote game recaps

• Oversaw statistics

• Coordinated media relations

But hiring managers are increasingly looking for outcomes:

• Increased social media engagement by 45%

• Generated record livestream viewership

• Created sponsorship opportunities that produced new revenue

• Expanded student worker programs that improved content production

That distinction is something I have explored repeatedly through articles such as Turning Experience into Resume Impact, More Than Content Creator, and my convention-focused career development series.

From an Athletic Communications Perspective

Many veteran athletic communicators encounter a challenge similar to the one Southern describes.

After 15 or 20 years in the profession, they have:

• Covered thousands of events

• Managed countless social media campaigns

• Built meaningful relationships across campus

• Led staffs, interns, and student workers

Yet many struggle to articulate how those experiences created value for their institutions.

The danger is that experience begins to look like tenure rather than impact.

For athletic communications professionals, the question is no longer:

"How long have you done this?"

The question is:

"What changed because you were there?"

That is a question I regularly encourage readers to answer.

Why This Matters

The audience for SIDAssistant includes job seekers, emerging professionals, and experienced leaders—many of whom work in sports communications and collegiate athletics.

They are navigating a profession where:

• Artificial intelligence is changing workflows.

• Content expectations continue to increase.

• Revenue generation is becoming part of external relations responsibilities.

• Hiring managers expect measurable outcomes.

Southern's article serves as a valuable reminder that careers are not simply collections of responsibilities. They are collections of results.

Final Takeaway

The lesson for athletic communicators is not to downplay experience.

The lesson is to translate experience into evidence.

Twenty years of experience should not be the headline.

The headline should be:

"Here is the impact those twenty years created."

That idea fits naturally alongside my mission: helping professionals become better equipped for their personal and professional endeavors.

Experience may open the door, but clarity, positioning, and demonstrated impact help keep it open.

For athletic communicators pursuing their next opportunity, the question is not how many years appear on the résumé.

The question is whether the résumé clearly communicates why those years mattered.

As always, I welcome your feedback. If this article resonates with you—or if you've experienced a similar challenge in your own career journey—I would enjoy hearing your perspective. The conversations that emerge from these reflections often provide as much value as the articles themselves.

What changed because you were there?

The Practical Path to Success (June 10, 2026)

We often hear that being an optimist means wearing rose-colored glasses, looking only at the sunny side, and ignoring the bumps in the road. But is that what true optimism really is?

Kate Chappell once noted:

"An optimist is not someone who always looks on the bright side of things, but someone who understands practical ways things happen and anticipates that they will be successful. Pessimists say there are so many obstacles it's never going to work out."

This perspective changes everything. True optimism isn't about blind wishful thinking or pretending that challenges don't exist. It is a mindset grounded in reality. It means looking at a goal, mapping out the practical steps required to get there, acknowledging the potential hurdles, and moving forward with the firm belief that you will succeed.

While a pessimist sees an obstacle as a dead end, a practical optimist sees it as a puzzle to be solved. Success doesn't happen by accident; it happens through intention, strategy, and a resilient mindset. When you change how you look at challenges, you change your outcomes.

Let’s Navigate Your Journey Together

Every great journey comes with its own unique set of obstacles, but you don't have to navigate them alone. Whether you are trying to overcome a professional hurdle, streamline your daily processes, or find practical ways to reach your next big milestone, I am here to support you.

I am fully available to help you clear the path to your success. I offer tailored guidance, practical solutions, and the strategic support you need to turn your obstacles into stepping stones. Together, we can anticipate your success and build a clear, actionable roadmap to get you there.

Ready to take the next step? Reach out today, and let's start working on your journey to success!

Article Review on “How can you increase your influence before your next promotion?” by Raymond White (June 9, 2026)

 This is the first of many article reviews of what I have been reading. The first article is “How can you increase your influence before your next promotion?” by Raymond White is a practical leadership-development piece focused on influence-building for mid-level professionals who feel constrained by organizational hierarchy. Rather than centering leadership on title or authority, the article argues that influence is developed through intentional behaviors long before a formal promotion occurs.

A major strength of the article is its accessibility. White writes from lived experience instead of abstract leadership theory, which makes the content relatable for professionals navigating a variety of collaborative environments, including a college athletic department. The sports analogy early in the piece is especially effective because it reframes leadership preparation as “practice before playing time.” The argument that “influence is often what earns the promotion” is the article’s core thesis.

The article is organized around five “shifts” that function as a framework for emerging leaders:

1. Build trusted relationships

2. Listen before persuading

3. Make expertise visible

4. Communicate with purpose

5. Become a connector

This structure works well because each section combines:

• a leadership principle,

• a personal reflection,

• actionable prompts,

• and a concise “Shift Your Lens” takeaway.

The strongest section may be “Make Your Expertise Visible.” White addresses a common leadership tension: professionals who work hard but struggle to articulate impact without appearing self-promotional. His distinction between effort and perceived organizational impact is particularly insightful. He explains that organizations tend to reward visible outcomes tied to strategic value, not merely hard work.

Another effective element is the emphasis on relational leadership. The article consistently reinforces that influence is social capital built through trust, curiosity, preparation, and collaboration rather than positional authority. This aligns with contemporary leadership theory surrounding emotional intelligence, stakeholder management, and servant leadership. The recommendation to become a “connector” is especially relevant in modern organizations where cross-functional collaboration often determines effectiveness.

Stylistically, the article succeeds because it avoids overly academic language while still delivering strategic insight. The conversational tone helps readers feel included in the discussion. Phrases such as “You’ve thought this too…” create emotional connection and make the content feel like mentorship rather than instruction.

The article is highly effective as a professional development resource because it balances encouragement with actionable leadership behaviors. It is especially valuable for:

• aspiring managers,

• middle managers,

• emerging leaders in athletics or education,

• and professionals who feel overlooked despite strong contributions.

The article’s broader message is clear: leadership influence is not something granted after promotion; it is demonstrated beforehand through trust-building, communication, visibility, and service to others. 

For readers in sports communications, collegiate athletics, or organizational leadership roles, the piece offers a strong reminder that culture-shaping and professional credibility can begin immediately, regardless of title.

I Arrived Knowing a Few People — I Left With a Second Family (June 5, 2026)

Back in 1999, I boarded a plane to Orlando to attend my first-ever College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) convention — an event now known through College Sports Communicators (CSC) as Unite. At the time, I had no idea that one trip would help shape not only my career, but many of the relationships that would define my professional life for decades to come.

At the time, I knew only a small handful of people in the profession. Like many first-time attendees, I was walking into something unknown. I understood the basics of the job, but I was still learning the industry, still learning the people and honestly, still learning where I fit within it all.

What I didn’t realize when I stepped onto that plane was that the convention would become far more than a professional development opportunity.

It became the beginning of a second family.

Over the years, CSC conventions have never simply been about panels, breakout sessions or networking receptions. They have been about people. They have been about reconnecting with those who understand the unique rhythm of this profession — the late nights, the missed holidays, the pressure, the pride and the constant pursuit of telling the stories of student-athletes the right way.

Some of the most valuable conversations I’ve ever had in this industry did not happen inside convention halls. They happened in hotel lobbies after midnight. They happened over Diet Coke (or for some, it is coffee) before sessions started. They happened while walking between meetings or sharing stories about challenges nobody outside athletic communications could fully understand.

That’s what makes this profession different.

The relationships built through CSC are rarely transactional. They become lasting friendships, mentorships and support systems that follow you throughout your career and, in many cases, throughout life.

This year, for the first time in a long time, I will not be in attendance.

And while I’ll certainly miss the conversations, the laughter, the familiar faces and the energy that convention week always brings, I’m still excited for everyone making the trip. I’m excited to follow the sessions, read the takeaways, see the photos and learn from afar through the perspectives of those attending.

Because convention season still matters — even when you are not physically there.

It remains a reminder that this profession continues to evolve. New voices emerge. Young professionals find confidence. Veterans rediscover purpose. Ideas are exchanged. Friendships are strengthened. Careers quietly change direction through one conversation in a hallway.

That was true in 1999.

And it is still true today.

For those attending this year’s convention, embrace all of it. The sessions matter. The networking matters. But the relationships matter most. Introduce yourself to someone new. Sit at a different table. Reconnect with people you have not spoken with in years. Listen more than you talk. Ask questions. Share experiences.

You may arrive knowing only a few people.

But you never know when a convention will become the start of your own second family.

Convention Isn’t Just for Advancement — It’s for Recalibration (June 4, 2026)

For many athletic communications professionals, convention season becomes easy to define in transactional terms.

• Networking.
• Job opportunities.
• Industry trends.
• Panels.
• Resume lines.
• Business cards.
• Social events.

And while all of those things matter, they are often only the surface-level value of attending a professional convention.

The deeper value — the one many professionals do not fully appreciate until years into their careers — is recalibration.

Because somewhere between deadlines, game notes, staffing shortages, travel schedules, social media expectations, live stats issues, crisis communication and the constant pressure to “do more with less,” many athletic communicators slowly drift away from the reason they entered the profession in the first place.

Convention has a way of bringing that reason back into focus.

Athletic Communications Can Be Professionally Isolating

One of the realities of this profession that rarely gets discussed openly is how isolating it can become.

Even inside an athletic department filled with coaches, student-athletes and administrators, many SIDs operate in environments where very few people truly understand what the role requires mentally and emotionally.

You become the problem solver.

The emergency responder.

The storyteller.

The designer.

The social strategist.

The writer.

The statistician.

The person expected to absorb pressure without visibly showing it.

Over time, especially for veteran professionals, that isolation can quietly evolve into exhaustion or professional numbness.

Convention interrupts that cycle.

It places professionals in rooms with people who understand the job without explanation. People who know exactly what a broken stat feed feels like five minutes before kickoff. People who understand the pressure of balancing visibility, branding, recruiting content and institutional expectations simultaneously.

Sometimes simply being around people who “get it” becomes restorative.

Reconnecting With Creativity

Most people do not enter athletic communications because they love compliance forms, budget meetings or troubleshooting livestream audio.

They enter because they love storytelling.

Creativity.

Sports.

Energy.

Connection.

But creativity can shrink when professionals stay inside the same departmental ecosystem year after year.

Convention often becomes the first moment in months where communicators are exposed to entirely different approaches, ideas and perspectives.

A Division II SID may see a recruiting strategy from an NAIA school that sparks a new idea.

A veteran professional may discover a younger creative’s workflow that completely reshapes how they approach content production.

A new professional may finally realize there is no single “correct” way to build a successful career in this industry.

That exposure matters.

Not because every new idea should be copied, but because fresh perspective prevents stagnation.

Sometimes growth begins simply by realizing your current environment is not the only way things can operate.

The Conversations That Matter Most Usually Aren’t Scheduled

The panels matter.

The educational sessions matter.

But some of the most impactful convention moments happen in hallways, hotel lobbies, coffee shops and late-night conversations after the scheduled programming ends.

Those are the moments where honesty tends to emerge.

The veteran SID admitting burnout.

The young professional questioning whether they belong in the industry.

The creative director discussing imposter syndrome despite years of success.

The administrator explaining how career pivots actually happen.

Those conversations often provide more career clarity than an entire session schedule.

Because convention reminds professionals that career paths are rarely linear.

The industry can sometimes create the illusion that everyone else has everything figured out. Convention quietly reveals that most professionals are still evolving, adapting and reassessing their direction in real time.

That realization can be freeing, especially for younger SIDs navigating uncertainty early in their careers.

Mentorship Does Not Always Look Formal

Some professionals attend convention searching for mentors.

Others arrive without realizing they already are one.

One of the underrated aspects of professional conventions is how naturally mentorship develops when people are removed from daily operational stress.

Advice becomes more candid.

Experiences become more transparent.

Failures become discussable.

And often, a single conversation can reignite motivation that had slowly faded during the year.

For younger professionals, convention can provide reassurance that uncertainty is normal.

For veteran professionals, it can provide perspective on how much wisdom they actually carry.

Both matter equally.

Recalibration Is Sometimes More Important Than Advancement

Not every convention attendee will leave with a new job lead.

Not everyone will secure a major collaboration or expand their network dramatically.

But many will leave with something equally valuable:

Perspective.

A renewed sense of purpose.

A reminder that their work still matters.

A clearer understanding of where they want their career to go next.

And sometimes, that recalibration becomes the difference between surviving the next season and rediscovering passion for the profession entirely.

Because convention is not always about climbing higher.

Sometimes it is about reconnecting with why you started climbing at all.

Sometimes the most important thing you leave convention with is not a contact, a credential, or a business card — but clarity.