3 Things I Wish I had Done to Succeed in Work and in Life
Working in the NBA
Last week, you read 3 Things I did that Helped me Succeed at Work and in Life, and this week you’re about to read 3 things I Wish I had done to Succeed in Work and in Life.
After 15+ seasons with the Trail Blazers, I was fired in January of 2022. I wasn’t expecting it but you also understand in the world of hoops, it can happen at any time. With two years of reflecting, there are several things I would have done differently.
1 - Continued Developing My Skill Set
When I came into the NBA as a Video Coordinator, I was awfully raw with my video and technical skills. I was unaware that anyone under 30 also doubled as IT for the building. It took me a couple of years to really settle into my role before I could then get creative with it and take my work to the next level.
In my first 5 seasons with the Blazers, the management and coaching staff gave me a lot of leeway to scout, develop analytically, and dabble in a lot of areas in Operations. After a couple of changes in management regimes, that leeway was removed and I was somewhat pigeon-holed in Video.
By the time I was no longer with the Blazers, I was burned out and wanted nothing to do with working in professional basketball.
I ended up getting a job in Marketing and started building another skill set. I enrolled in University courses again and started rebuilding another career. But in hindsight, I should have continued this development while working with the Blazers. There were ample opportunities to continue educational and professional development to prepare me for the possibility of a career outside of basketball. But I was highly unprepared. I had a lot of soft skills and a lot of basketball skills that were not applicable to most jobs and careers.
2 - Kept in Touch with People
The first Coaching Staffs I worked for included Kaleb Canales, Monty Williams, and Joe Prunty. All 3 who have been Head or Interim Head Coaches in the NBA. All 3 who I had great relationships with. And 1 that I still have a relationship with.
Relationships are hard. Networking is hard. Making connections is hard. And keeping them is hard. In a way, I write that as an encouragement. To not get discouraged as you are going about building your own network and connections. And as well, to encourage you to stay connected with those you meet along the way.
Working in sports can be overwhelming. You always feel like your head is underwater. It’s hard to maintain relationships.
I was really good at keeping the relationships close to me but not so much with those who had moved on to other teams or out of the League. It was an eye opener for me once I lost my job. Those I had been so keen on keeping relationships with on the team… well, I was now on the other side and someone they didn’t care to stay connected with. Meanwhile, it was others who had been fired, even years prior who were there to check in, keep in touch, and rebuild the relationship. It made me question myself, realizing, I had likely let those relationship slip away when they had been fired / moved on, but thankful they were still there when I needed them.
3 - 3rd Space on the Road
I mentioned in my last article that one of the things that helped me towards success was having a 3rd space. One place I wish I had created a 3rd space was on the road. Again, I lived a large chunk of my career overwhelmed rather than enjoying the journey and process. On the road, it was plane to gym to hotel to gym to plane. I did my best when I could to get out to the city just to take it in, take a walk, see a sight. But I wish I would have built in some rhythms, finding coffee shops, sitting down, taking time.
At our hotels, we had everything needed. Workout facilities, food and drinks, etc. But there were still coaches who left the hotel every morning to go to Starbucks. Or left the hotel early to go to a yoga or workout studio. As I got older, I understood the value of those rhythms. Of having a 3rd space beyond the work and home (hotel).
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