As a senior, the question "what are you doing after graduation?", can become pretty redundant. My typical response being: "My goal is to work in marketing and digital media for a major league sports franchise, specifically in Chicago." What happens next? The usual, "wow, that's awesome, but isn't that going to be really tough to get into?" Well, of course it is. But so is every other job on the market. My goal simply happens to be in a smaller industry as opposed to something like financial services. However, I realized something through a conversation I had with a friend. I learned that sometimes, it's not always about winning. In my case, I might not find myself in major league sports right away, but that's okay. I've discovered that it's not always about winning in terms of place or franchise, but no matter what, it is always about the fans.
What do I mean by that? Well, ever since I was young, I have loved making others happy, helping others in this way or that, and simply brightening up their lives in any way possible. Whether it be bringing a friend to a sporting event, inviting the "unpopular" kids to join in a game of kickball, or helping families who found themselves down on their luck, I have always had a passion for creating joy in the lives of others. And it is this passion that led me to discover why I am pursuing a career in sports & entertainment. It's not about winning, but creating an exciting, fun, and memorable environment for everyone in attendance. Sure, it's a plus when the home team wins (that pleases the fans more than anything else), but that is not the only reason why consumers keep coming back in the future.
Enter my passion, my aspiration, my goal. After working for the Des Moines Buccaneers and now for Drake Athletics Marketing, I finally figured out why I love this industry: The fans. Nothing is better than seeing the ecstatic look on a kid's face when s/he wins a t-shit or catches a stuffed animal. It's the satisfaction received when you walk a group of kids in attendance for "Character Counts" day around the field to the tunnel so they can cheer on their favorite players as they enter the stadium. It's the disbelief on the face of an unsuspecting college student when you tell them they've been randomly chosen to win a flat-screen TV. Yes, it's important to turn a profit each game. Yes, it's great to see the home team win. However, let's not forget, the most important piece of the puzzle is the fan population. It doesn't matter if the team on the field/court/ice wins (although it certainly helps), but it is crucial to keep your fans happy.
It isn't always about winning, but it is always about making it the best atmosphere for your target audience. Make it fun, make it exciting, make it memorable. You'll begin to sell out in no time.
What do I mean by that? Well, ever since I was young, I have loved making others happy, helping others in this way or that, and simply brightening up their lives in any way possible. Whether it be bringing a friend to a sporting event, inviting the "unpopular" kids to join in a game of kickball, or helping families who found themselves down on their luck, I have always had a passion for creating joy in the lives of others. And it is this passion that led me to discover why I am pursuing a career in sports & entertainment. It's not about winning, but creating an exciting, fun, and memorable environment for everyone in attendance. Sure, it's a plus when the home team wins (that pleases the fans more than anything else), but that is not the only reason why consumers keep coming back in the future.
Enter my passion, my aspiration, my goal. After working for the Des Moines Buccaneers and now for Drake Athletics Marketing, I finally figured out why I love this industry: The fans. Nothing is better than seeing the ecstatic look on a kid's face when s/he wins a t-shit or catches a stuffed animal. It's the satisfaction received when you walk a group of kids in attendance for "Character Counts" day around the field to the tunnel so they can cheer on their favorite players as they enter the stadium. It's the disbelief on the face of an unsuspecting college student when you tell them they've been randomly chosen to win a flat-screen TV. Yes, it's important to turn a profit each game. Yes, it's great to see the home team win. However, let's not forget, the most important piece of the puzzle is the fan population. It doesn't matter if the team on the field/court/ice wins (although it certainly helps), but it is crucial to keep your fans happy.
It isn't always about winning, but it is always about making it the best atmosphere for your target audience. Make it fun, make it exciting, make it memorable. You'll begin to sell out in no time.