As a teenager, I dreamed of being a sportscaster and working in some of the best sports arenas in the nation. I hoped to work in all of the sports arenas I grew up seeing on ESPN and other sports networks.
I did play-by-play for various sports games in college and high school but found talents elsewhere. I found I had a good mind for marketing and also did a couple of sales internships along the way. When I graduated from Otterbein in June of 2008, opportunities to do sales came about and I used that to start my career. With the economy the way it was, I had to take the opportunity provided to me and my sports announcing was put on hold.
After not announcing a single game for three years after I graduated, an opportunity came about to call a Solon High School hockey game. A neighbor of mine at the time had a son on the team and they desperately needed someone to announce the game. After not having called a game in three years, I took the opportunity.
The arena I called the game in was cold, cramped and nothing like the professional sports arenas I watched on TV growing up. To be honest, I didn't care at that point. After not being able to announce games for three years, I was happy to have a microphone in front of me and a game to announce. The press area was small but that place felt like heaven that day.
As I started to announce games more often after that hockey game, going back to some old stomping grounds to call games felt like going home. Solon's football stadium had provided many great memories for me growing up and I always walk out thinking how happy that place makes me. Solon's gym is the same way. Neither facility is high tech or state of the art like the press areas you see at the larger arenas but calling games in these places makes me happy. Going back reminds me how happy I was as a teenager calling games in these high school venues and how grateful I am to keep announcing the sports I love.
Sunday, March 1, 2015
Online Dating Tips
Online dating is a popular trend in today's society. Those looking to find a romantic partner have signed up for and gone to various sites for this purpose. While it is a great way to meet others, it is also not an exact science.
From personal experience, meeting someone online is much different from meeting someone in person. For the online experience, you probably won't have any background information on the person prior to making contact. All you will know about this person is what is on the profile.
Below are some strategies for online dating:
1) Look to see what you have in common with the person reaching out to you or the person you are trying to reach - this will be key if you end up meeting the person. It is easy to go through the profiles and find random people to go out with; it may be harder to find someone you have a lot in common with. Try to find those with similar interests so that it can give you a basis for conversation during an initial date. You may still not feel a connection with this person, however, it will help in the long run to have common interests should things progress.
2) Try to have a phone conversation with this person prior to the first date - it is easy to e-mail and text over and over; it isn't always easy to have a conversation in person. One of the best ways to test if the person can hold a conversation well is by talking on the phone. Sometimes a person is more willing to talk on the phone than in person, however, it is better to get an idea what could happen before agreeing to meet someone. This is also a great way to gauge how interested the person really is and whether or not it is worth pursuing.
3) Stay away from those with bad attitudes - I know this sounds obvious but from personal experience, it will make a difference. I've seen people that put that the site they are on "sucks" and "doesn't work". I also came across one where the person thought "coffee dates were too cheap so don't bother asking." Personally, I read these profiles and was turned off by reading this information. I didn't think it was worth pursuing someone who didn't believe that the online dating was working to begin with and wasn't going to waste my time with someone who was most likely going to have a bad attitude.
4) Find those who are willing to return your calls, are interested and want to develop the relationship - it can be frustrating having to chase down someone who doesn't return calls, texts or communication in a timely manner. This can dampen the dating experience and put your time towards those who are really interested. It's a much better experience putting the time into someone who is willing to work at building the relationship than chasing someone who isn't willing to return correspondence. Your time is probably limited and put it towards someone who is willing to make the effort to get to know you.
From personal experience, meeting someone online is much different from meeting someone in person. For the online experience, you probably won't have any background information on the person prior to making contact. All you will know about this person is what is on the profile.
Below are some strategies for online dating:
1) Look to see what you have in common with the person reaching out to you or the person you are trying to reach - this will be key if you end up meeting the person. It is easy to go through the profiles and find random people to go out with; it may be harder to find someone you have a lot in common with. Try to find those with similar interests so that it can give you a basis for conversation during an initial date. You may still not feel a connection with this person, however, it will help in the long run to have common interests should things progress.
2) Try to have a phone conversation with this person prior to the first date - it is easy to e-mail and text over and over; it isn't always easy to have a conversation in person. One of the best ways to test if the person can hold a conversation well is by talking on the phone. Sometimes a person is more willing to talk on the phone than in person, however, it is better to get an idea what could happen before agreeing to meet someone. This is also a great way to gauge how interested the person really is and whether or not it is worth pursuing.
3) Stay away from those with bad attitudes - I know this sounds obvious but from personal experience, it will make a difference. I've seen people that put that the site they are on "sucks" and "doesn't work". I also came across one where the person thought "coffee dates were too cheap so don't bother asking." Personally, I read these profiles and was turned off by reading this information. I didn't think it was worth pursuing someone who didn't believe that the online dating was working to begin with and wasn't going to waste my time with someone who was most likely going to have a bad attitude.
4) Find those who are willing to return your calls, are interested and want to develop the relationship - it can be frustrating having to chase down someone who doesn't return calls, texts or communication in a timely manner. This can dampen the dating experience and put your time towards those who are really interested. It's a much better experience putting the time into someone who is willing to work at building the relationship than chasing someone who isn't willing to return correspondence. Your time is probably limited and put it towards someone who is willing to make the effort to get to know you.
Sunday, February 15, 2015
Don't Judge a Person By a TV Show
I've never had an interest in watching The Jerry Springer Show. Growing up during the height of its popularity, I never understood why so many people spent time watching a show where people fight, argue and act inappropriately on national television.
My freshman year at Otterbein, I had an opportunity to hear Jerry Springer speak in person. My first thought was why should I spend the time to listen to this man speak? His show never appealed to me and I never understood why he gained popularity.
On the other hand, it was an opportunity to see someone who had an impact on American culture and a celebrity live in person. For that reason, I decided to go to his talk. I was young at the time and figured I may not get another opportunity to see him speak again.
I still don't have any desire to watch his show but Springer was more dynamic and well spoken in person. He only made a couple references to his TV show but the main focus was on the importance of voting (keep in mind this was an election year). Springer, who holds a degree in political science, clearly understood how politicians worked and made his message clear. Voters have the opportunity to vote who they want in there and influence how decisions are made.
My perception of Springer changed after seeing him speak. I understood better how intelligent he was and why he achieved the success he had. He had his facts in line, knew how to communicate his message and was an incredible speaker.
As mentioned earlier, I have never watched his TV show but understood the man he was beyond what you saw on television.
My freshman year at Otterbein, I had an opportunity to hear Jerry Springer speak in person. My first thought was why should I spend the time to listen to this man speak? His show never appealed to me and I never understood why he gained popularity.
On the other hand, it was an opportunity to see someone who had an impact on American culture and a celebrity live in person. For that reason, I decided to go to his talk. I was young at the time and figured I may not get another opportunity to see him speak again.
I still don't have any desire to watch his show but Springer was more dynamic and well spoken in person. He only made a couple references to his TV show but the main focus was on the importance of voting (keep in mind this was an election year). Springer, who holds a degree in political science, clearly understood how politicians worked and made his message clear. Voters have the opportunity to vote who they want in there and influence how decisions are made.
My perception of Springer changed after seeing him speak. I understood better how intelligent he was and why he achieved the success he had. He had his facts in line, knew how to communicate his message and was an incredible speaker.
As mentioned earlier, I have never watched his TV show but understood the man he was beyond what you saw on television.
Saturday, February 14, 2015
Don't Be Afraid to Change
I hadn't posted on this blog in quite some time but I decided it was time for a change. I started Networking, Interning, Marketing and More before I started my MBA program through Baldwin Wallace University. I thought the name was cool and would get the point across.
As I got further into my program, I realized the name for this blog had several issues with it. It was long, hard to remember and the URL took forever to type. It wasn't easy for anyone to remember and I realized that maybe the name I took wasn't so good after all.
I also used the blog to talk about online dating. I intended this to be a business blog so posts about using Match.com and eHarmony didn't fit the model I originally hoped for.
On Facebook and Twitter, I started posting messages of inspiration with the hashtag #dailywisdom. A lot of these posts started getting a lot of likes on both forms of social media. Many commented that these posts are helpful and I was making a difference. I didn't realize how much I was making a difference until some of my Facebook friends told me so.
I decided to change this blog to widen the topics it could cover and change the name. I had given thought to making this change and didn't have any fears to do so.
So here it is...welcome to Weekly Wisdom!
As I got further into my program, I realized the name for this blog had several issues with it. It was long, hard to remember and the URL took forever to type. It wasn't easy for anyone to remember and I realized that maybe the name I took wasn't so good after all.
I also used the blog to talk about online dating. I intended this to be a business blog so posts about using Match.com and eHarmony didn't fit the model I originally hoped for.
On Facebook and Twitter, I started posting messages of inspiration with the hashtag #dailywisdom. A lot of these posts started getting a lot of likes on both forms of social media. Many commented that these posts are helpful and I was making a difference. I didn't realize how much I was making a difference until some of my Facebook friends told me so.
I decided to change this blog to widen the topics it could cover and change the name. I had given thought to making this change and didn't have any fears to do so.
So here it is...welcome to Weekly Wisdom!
Thursday, July 25, 2013
Leaving a Phone Message 101
Networking can easily be done through the Internet but there are times in which a phone call may be required. Reaching out to a potential contact or employer always requires a good first impression over the phone.
Talking on the phone isn't hard but there are several items to consider when leaving a voicemail:
Talking on the phone isn't hard but there are several items to consider when leaving a voicemail:
- The message needs to be direct and clear
- A concise message can get your intention across than a long dragged out message
- Not speaking clearly can hinder your chances of getting a response from the desired contact
- Make it concise and to the point - state your name, where you obtained the contact's name from, your intention and a phone number. It doesn't have to be long and dragged out. Making it too long can lead to confusion on the other end
- Speak clearly - how do you feel when someone leaves you a phone message you can't understand? You probably did not want to call that person back because you could not understand what the person was saying
- Leave a contact number - you will be surprised how often people forget to leave a phone number on a message. Make sure the person can call you back. Don't assume the person has caller ID
Saturday, February 2, 2013
Key Tips for First Dates
Two years ago, a friend of mine suggested I try the world of online dating. I wasn't opposed to idea and knew it was going to be a learning experience. I hadn't dated for a long time prior to that point and knew there were going to be some ups and downs.
Like regular dating, online dating consists of a lot of first dates and trying to see which one makes the best connection. Finding someone through an online search is a much different process but the concepts for a first date are essentially the same. You still have to try and make a connection with the person and make a good first impression.
Below are some tips you can use when going out with someone for the first time:
1) The Small Favors Can Go a Long Way - Being polite to the server (if at a restaurant), opening doors, and showing an interest in the person (more on this later) can really go a long way on a first date. On a personal note, I was usually turned off whenever a date was rude to the server or didn't take the time to show much of an interest in me. In one particular instance, I had a date who constantly said rude things to the server and didn't show much of an interest in me the entire dinner. As a result, it came across to me like she really wasn't interested in me and her poor manners towards the server were really a turn off. If someone is taking time out of his or her day to meet with you and go out on a date, minding your manners can make a huge difference.
2) Take the Time to Listen and Learn About the Other Person - It's okay to be a little nervous but don't let it effect your listening skills or taking time to learn about the other person. If you show and interest and listen, it will make for a much better conversation. You may not always have a connection with the person but you won't help yourself if you are constantly babbling about yourself or random things. I always found it easier to find things to talk about if I listened to the other person rather than giving someone my own verbal autobiography. I can recall one instance in which my date constantly babbled about random items and didn't take any time to get to know me as a person. It made it difficult to have a conversation after a while and it came across at times that this girl was more interested in talking about herself rather than getting to know who I was as a person.
3) Try and Pick a Place Comfortable for Both of You - You don't necessarily have to go all out and to the most expensive place in town for your first date. Keeping it simple helps at first and keep in mind that while you may be able to converse with someone through e-mails and text messages, you may not have a connection in person. Something simple like a coffee shop or going out for drinks is a nice casual way of setting up a first date. Going out to dinner works as well but can be a lot of money down the tubes if the date is a bust and things don't pan out. Try and pick something that will be comfortable for you and your date and go from there.
4) If Things Don't Work Out, Be Respectful to the Other Person - It is hard when you have a bad evening on a date or something doesn't work out with the other person. Sometimes it is hard to take and you may feel like you wasted your time but learn from the experience as much as you can. You may not feel a connection with the other person or the other person may not feel much of a connection with you. It is hard at times to get rejected like that but avoid being rude to the person or doing something that could hurt his or her feelings. A situation where there is no connection or a rough date can be hard to take but going out of your way to embarrass the other person won't help the situation. Keep in mind that you probably wouldn't want someone to go out of his or her way to embarrass you after a bad date.
5) Learn What You Can From Each Date - Not every date will work out but keep in mind what you can learn from each opportunity. The more you date, the easier it will be and learn from each experience as much as you can. It will help you learn how to develop a relationship with the person you want to keep seeing and help you soar from there.
Like regular dating, online dating consists of a lot of first dates and trying to see which one makes the best connection. Finding someone through an online search is a much different process but the concepts for a first date are essentially the same. You still have to try and make a connection with the person and make a good first impression.
Below are some tips you can use when going out with someone for the first time:
1) The Small Favors Can Go a Long Way - Being polite to the server (if at a restaurant), opening doors, and showing an interest in the person (more on this later) can really go a long way on a first date. On a personal note, I was usually turned off whenever a date was rude to the server or didn't take the time to show much of an interest in me. In one particular instance, I had a date who constantly said rude things to the server and didn't show much of an interest in me the entire dinner. As a result, it came across to me like she really wasn't interested in me and her poor manners towards the server were really a turn off. If someone is taking time out of his or her day to meet with you and go out on a date, minding your manners can make a huge difference.
2) Take the Time to Listen and Learn About the Other Person - It's okay to be a little nervous but don't let it effect your listening skills or taking time to learn about the other person. If you show and interest and listen, it will make for a much better conversation. You may not always have a connection with the person but you won't help yourself if you are constantly babbling about yourself or random things. I always found it easier to find things to talk about if I listened to the other person rather than giving someone my own verbal autobiography. I can recall one instance in which my date constantly babbled about random items and didn't take any time to get to know me as a person. It made it difficult to have a conversation after a while and it came across at times that this girl was more interested in talking about herself rather than getting to know who I was as a person.
3) Try and Pick a Place Comfortable for Both of You - You don't necessarily have to go all out and to the most expensive place in town for your first date. Keeping it simple helps at first and keep in mind that while you may be able to converse with someone through e-mails and text messages, you may not have a connection in person. Something simple like a coffee shop or going out for drinks is a nice casual way of setting up a first date. Going out to dinner works as well but can be a lot of money down the tubes if the date is a bust and things don't pan out. Try and pick something that will be comfortable for you and your date and go from there.
4) If Things Don't Work Out, Be Respectful to the Other Person - It is hard when you have a bad evening on a date or something doesn't work out with the other person. Sometimes it is hard to take and you may feel like you wasted your time but learn from the experience as much as you can. You may not feel a connection with the other person or the other person may not feel much of a connection with you. It is hard at times to get rejected like that but avoid being rude to the person or doing something that could hurt his or her feelings. A situation where there is no connection or a rough date can be hard to take but going out of your way to embarrass the other person won't help the situation. Keep in mind that you probably wouldn't want someone to go out of his or her way to embarrass you after a bad date.
5) Learn What You Can From Each Date - Not every date will work out but keep in mind what you can learn from each opportunity. The more you date, the easier it will be and learn from each experience as much as you can. It will help you learn how to develop a relationship with the person you want to keep seeing and help you soar from there.
Saturday, January 12, 2013
Tips for Online Dating
The New Year has started and chances are, some of you may be taking to the world of online dating as one of your resolutions. Having grown in popularity over the past several years, online dating is becoming one of the best ways to meet new people and start relationships.
Having done online dating in the past, I have learned many lessons but one comes to mind right away; it is not an exact science. A lot of the process is based off trial and error and there is a lot to consider before diving in.
Below are some tips on getting started to the world of Online Dating:
1) Be Open Minded - I am not saying that you should simply go out with anyone that requests to speak to you on the online dating site you choose but keep in mind that you don't know these people from previous experience either. In a way, online dating is almost like going on a blind date. You may be able to e-mail a person back and forth easily but not be able to hold a conversation when meeting in person. Keep in mind that while online dating is a great way to meet others, you never know what will happen until you actually meet that person face to face.
2) Try and Have a Phone Conversation Prior to Meeting in Person - It is easy to get caught up in e-mails back and forth and not have an actual phone conversation prior to meeting. While meeting times can be set up easily through e-mail, you may find that you can't hold a conversation with that person face to face. Having a phone conversation sometimes alleviates any nervousness prior to a face to face meeting and can also be an indication as to whether or not it is worth it to meet. You may find that you have difficulty finding common ground to talk about on the phone or find the other person really isn't that interested.
3) Plan a Budget - I am not saying to go cheap on first dates or any dates but doing multiple dates can get expensive if you are going to lots of different restaurants on a weekly basis. Meeting for dinner can be a great way to meet someone, however, it can get expensive if done multiple times. Meeting for coffee or drinks can be a great alternative especially if you are not sure if things will work out.
4) Keep in Mind You Do Not Know These People From Previous Experience - You may come across one or two people you know on these dating sites but keep in mind you won't know a good percentage of the people with profiles on these sites. While the profiles can give you a good indication as to what these people are like, you won't know until you meet someone in person. Someone may come across one way in his or her profile but completely different in person.
5) Things May Not Work Out With Someone for Reasons Beyond Your Control - It is unfortunate but there may be instances in which the other person may not want to move forward with another date or a relationship for reasons beyond your control. There may be work issues, personal issues, the other person not feeling a connection, etc. that may prevent a relationship from moving forward.
6) Each Experience is Different - You may find someone you click with right away from the first date and it may take much longer. It is hard to predict and you may be on a site for a few months before finding the right person. Each experience is different and keep in mind a relationship may not material overnight.
Having done online dating in the past, I have learned many lessons but one comes to mind right away; it is not an exact science. A lot of the process is based off trial and error and there is a lot to consider before diving in.
Below are some tips on getting started to the world of Online Dating:
1) Be Open Minded - I am not saying that you should simply go out with anyone that requests to speak to you on the online dating site you choose but keep in mind that you don't know these people from previous experience either. In a way, online dating is almost like going on a blind date. You may be able to e-mail a person back and forth easily but not be able to hold a conversation when meeting in person. Keep in mind that while online dating is a great way to meet others, you never know what will happen until you actually meet that person face to face.
2) Try and Have a Phone Conversation Prior to Meeting in Person - It is easy to get caught up in e-mails back and forth and not have an actual phone conversation prior to meeting. While meeting times can be set up easily through e-mail, you may find that you can't hold a conversation with that person face to face. Having a phone conversation sometimes alleviates any nervousness prior to a face to face meeting and can also be an indication as to whether or not it is worth it to meet. You may find that you have difficulty finding common ground to talk about on the phone or find the other person really isn't that interested.
3) Plan a Budget - I am not saying to go cheap on first dates or any dates but doing multiple dates can get expensive if you are going to lots of different restaurants on a weekly basis. Meeting for dinner can be a great way to meet someone, however, it can get expensive if done multiple times. Meeting for coffee or drinks can be a great alternative especially if you are not sure if things will work out.
4) Keep in Mind You Do Not Know These People From Previous Experience - You may come across one or two people you know on these dating sites but keep in mind you won't know a good percentage of the people with profiles on these sites. While the profiles can give you a good indication as to what these people are like, you won't know until you meet someone in person. Someone may come across one way in his or her profile but completely different in person.
5) Things May Not Work Out With Someone for Reasons Beyond Your Control - It is unfortunate but there may be instances in which the other person may not want to move forward with another date or a relationship for reasons beyond your control. There may be work issues, personal issues, the other person not feeling a connection, etc. that may prevent a relationship from moving forward.
6) Each Experience is Different - You may find someone you click with right away from the first date and it may take much longer. It is hard to predict and you may be on a site for a few months before finding the right person. Each experience is different and keep in mind a relationship may not material overnight.
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