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Overcoming Competition
Submitted by: JB
United StatesNFL Employee & Believer in The Secret.
I grew up playing sports and had always known that if I didn’t play in sports, I would work in sports. Little did I know that it is one of the most competitive business fields in the world. Tens of thousands will apply to jobs that are posted online for more than a week. I didn’t know how I would get to where I wanted to go, but I knew that sports was where I wanted to be.
I went to college as a Business Management major. A year into college, my university opened up their Sport Management degree program and I quickly changed majors. As a Sport Management major, you must intern with a sports related organization to graduate. Knowing by now that I wanted to work in the NFL (National Football League), that’s where I set my goal for my internship. I came from a small town with no NFL teams within 200 miles. I then found out that the closest team actually held their training camp just 25 miles from my hometown.
I got an internship with them for training camp. Post graduation, I then got an internship with another NFL team much farther away for their training camp. They even invited me back for a 2nd. After the 2nd camp with my 2nd team, I was tired of interning and wanted a real job. Again, I saw no way of it happening. Jobs in the NFL don’t come open very often, and when they do, it’s extremely competitive.
After training camp, I felt inspired to make a bold move. I packed up everything and moved to the city of the NFL team I had just finished training camp with. I volunteered for them for the next season doing whatever they would let me do.
Shortly before the 2011 season, my boss abruptly left his position to accept a better job outside the NFL. On his way out, he recommended me to his boss for his position. I got the interview and was hired. I am one of 32 people in the world that hold my position.
I used The Secret, knowingly and sometimes unknowingly, every step of the way. I accomplished a dream. And now it’s on to the next one. I can’t wait to come back and tell you all about that journey too!