After writing yesterday's blog post, I realized that I needed to turn it as a way to educate those at a different stage in their athletic communications career. Early on, we often mistake deliberation for diligence, but through the mentorship of many veteran athletic communications professionals I have learned that speed is a form of service. Here are some of those early-career lessons correlate to the philosophy of avoiding indecision.
1. The "Post-Game Panic" vs. The Default Standard
The Lesson: Early in your career, you likely spent 20 minutes agonizing over a headline after a tough loss, worried about the "vibe" of the quote.
The Correlation: That was your first encounter with Decision Fatigue. You were treating a routine result as a brand crisis.
The Growth: You eventually learned that a "Score-First, Context-Second" standard saved your sanity. Decisiveness in the small moments (like getting the final score out in under 60 seconds) is what builds the bandwidth to handle the actual post-game fires.
2. The Myth of the "Perfect" Press Release
The Lesson: Remember staying until 2:00 AM to tweak a mid-week preview that only 100 people were going to read? You were waiting for a "feeling" of completeness that never came.
The Correlation: This was Fear of Being Wrong disguised as "attention to detail."
The Growth: You realized that an 85% perfect release sent at 5:00 PM is infinitely more valuable than a 100% perfect release sent at midnight. You learned that forward motion is the only way to clear your desk.
3. Handling the "Coach's Request"
The Lesson: Early on, when a coach asked for something outside the scope of your resources, you likely said, "Let me see what I can do," even when you knew the answer was no.
The Correlation: You were avoiding the Social Friction of a decision. By not deciding "No" immediately, you carried the weight of that "Maybe" for three days, draining your energy every time you saw that coach in the hallway.
The Growth: You learned that a clear, respectful "No" or "Not right now" provides immediate Closure and Momentum for both you and the coach.
4. The "Press Box" Credibility Test
The Lesson: You likely remember a moment where a crisis hit—a power outage, a statistical error, or a medical emergency—and everyone in the press box turned to look at you.
The Correlation: Indecision Sends a Signal. In those moments, if you looked paralyzed, the room panicked. If you made a choice—even just to move everyone to a different room—the room settled.
The Growth: You discovered that leadership in SID work isn't about having the right answer; it's about having the courage to choose a direction when the information is incomplete.
Why This Matters for the "Next Generation"
As I mentor young professionals today, I can see them making these same mistakes. They are "polishing the brass on a sinking ship" because they are afraid to make a final call.
The ultimate life lesson of the SID office:
The work doesn't drain you; it’s the unmade decisions about the work that do. The "Open Loops" from 9:00 AM are what make you feel exhausted at 9:00 PM.
If you are navigating the early years of your career in athletic communications and find yourself paralyzed by the "What ifs," or if you are a veteran looking to streamline your department’s decision-making protocols—reach out.
I know firsthand that this industry can be as draining as it is rewarding. Sometimes, the best way to close an "open loop" is to talk it through with someone who has been in the trenches.
I am committed to paying it forward. If you need a sounding board, a bit of mentorship, or just want to dive deeper into how to protect your mental bandwidth, I am more than willing to set aside time to help you on your journey.
Email me at: Daniel.Kambel@gmail.com
Let’s grab a virtual Diet Coke (that's my choice of drink) / coffee and get you moving forward.
The courage to choose is easier to find when you aren't choosing alone. Let’s connect.
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