Sports were never my strong suit. The closest I’ve come to playing a team sport was middle school cross country, an endeavor that earned me the “most improved” award three years in a row (a feat achieved by running a meager 12 minute mile at the start of each season). At first, I wasn’t sure that I would be able to fully appreciate the joint Luther Hodges and Shuford The Business of Sports Panel, but I could not have been more wrong.
What I saw reflected in the panelists’ experiences and insights went far beyond just NIL deals, brand sponsorships, and transfer portal politics. As each of them shared their stories of “making it” in the industry, I came to see a common thread of grit and passion woven throughout. The same “never give up” attitude common in the athletes they work with has been crucial in their own career journeys. The entire industry requires so much more entrepreneurial spirit than I would have guessed, requiring extensive networking, consistency, personal branding, and intentionality. Whenever I found myself lost amid unfamiliar sports terminology, I was quickly drawn back in by the panelists’ stories of perseverance.
The quotes “be in the right place at the right time” and “don’t be above working for free” from panelists Cicero Leak and Irfaun Delgado Karim (respectively) left a particular impression on me. While you cannot always control all the factors you’d like to, you can take steps to set yourself up for success. Working for free may not be an option for everyone, but the idea of gaining hands-on experience whenever possible still has merit. It gave me a greater desire to position myself better for opportunities whether that be saying yes to an extra meeting, reaching out and making a new connection, or proving my work ethic before expecting immediate returns.
Learning about their success in the notoriously difficult-to-break-into sports industry also made me think more deeply about my own career aspirations. Am I passionate about the industry I have decided to pursue? Have I dismissed a career path in something I love for the sake of practicality? Am I willing to work hard to get where I want to be? These are questions that I asked myself as a high school senior but have neglected to consider since. The panel prompted me to reflect on what truly excites me – what kind of work do I want to wake up excited to do every day? Even if sports don’t interest me, what does? What would my dream job be if I knew I could not fail, and why should I let fear stop me from chasing that goal?
I went into the panel expecting to strictly learn about NIL and sports marketing but left with an increased desire to pursue what fulfills me, even if it’s viewed as “impossible to break into” or “unrealistic.” Hearing from professionals who built careers doing what they love – despite the odds – was a powerful reminder that passion and persistence can take you further than you might think.
