This week, I went back to where it all began—Wartburg College’s TV studio for their homecoming weekend, where I was once the big shot Sports Director. (Or so I thought.) Took my kids along to show them where dad “ran the show” before my days on the anchor desk at CBS, FOX, and NBC affiliates. They were impressed for about two minutes... until they saw the free snacks and were distracted like a dog with a squirrel.
Being back in that studio made me realize just how far the journey has come. From calling highlights to now leading C-suite discussions and global marketing campaigns, the skills I picked up (along with a questionable taste in ties) have carried me through to this day.
Key takeaways from this nostalgia trip:
➟ 𝗤𝘂𝗶𝗰𝗸 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗻𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗴𝗼𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝘀𝘁𝘆𝗹𝗲 – Whether you’re breaking down a play or business strategy, you better be ready to pivot faster than a quarterback avoiding a sack.
➟ 𝗦𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆𝘁𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗺𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀 – Whether it’s sports or business, people remember a great narrative. Your ability to connect the dots and deliver it with confidence? That’s gold.
➟ 𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗻 𝗮 “𝗧𝗩 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘀 𝗗𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿” 𝘁𝗶𝘁𝗹𝗲 𝗱𝗼𝗲𝘀𝗻’𝘁 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗸𝗶𝗱𝘀 – Apparently, “CEO" or "Chief Marketing Officer” doesn’t either. But hey, they did ask if I was on YouTube and TikTok, so there’s hope.
Looking back helps shape how we move forward.