MOTIVATIONAL QUOTES TO START YOUR NEW YEAR!

Some special inspiration that I wanted to share with my readers as we begin a brand new year. Enjoy my friends!

------------------------------------------------------

Though no one can go back and make a brand new start, anyone can start from now and make a brand new ending - Carl Bard

Never be afraid to do something new. Remember, amateurs built the ark; professionals built the titanic - Anonymous

Throughout the centuries there were men who took first steps down new roads, armed with nothing but their own vision - Ayn Rand

We must not, in trying to think about how we can make a big difference, ignore the small daily differences we can make which, over time, add up to big differences that we often cannot foresee - Marian Wright Edelman

Remember, all the answers you need are inside of you; you only have to become quiet enough to hear them - Debbie Ford

Don't let life discourage you; everyone who got where he is had to
begin where he was - Richard L. Evans

SALES TIP: If people like you they'll listen to you, but if they trust you they'll do business with you - Zig Ziglar

Happiness resides not in posessions and not in gold; the feeling of happiness dwells in the soul - Democritus

Your imagination is your preview of life's coming attractions - Albert Einstein

In prosperity, our friends know us; in adversity, we know our friends - John Churton Collins

Nothing is predestined: The obstacles of your past can become the gateways that lead to new beginnings - Ralph Blum

Look up and not down; look forward and not back; look out and not in; and lend a hand - E. E. Hale

What is defeat? Nothing but education; nothing but the first steps to something better - Proverb

Confidence comes not from always being right but from not fearing to be wrong - Peter T. McIntyre

SALES TIP: Confidence is contagious and so is lack of confidence, and a customer will recognize both - Vincent Lombardi

Do not wait; the time will never be 'just right.' Start where you stand, and work with whatever tools you may have at your command, and better tools will be found as you go along - Napoleon Hill

Jim Loria, Career Planning Expert for Sports Professionals
Email address: loria@sfstampede.com

DREAMS CAN COME TRUE! GO THE DISTANCE!

One of the best parts of my job is when I get a chance to visit an elementary school and tell stories to the kids. It never fails that I will ask the students about their dreams in life.

Which brings me back to my own childhood days when I attended a Catholic elementary school in Massachusetts. During my year of third grade studies, Sister Marie Catherine (my teacher) posed this question to her students: "What Do You Want To Be When You Grow Up" and then instructed us all to write down our answer on paper and she would read them out loud. Many of us stated the same things: astronaut, doctor, fireman, lawyer, policeman, etc. Then came mine. My teacher was stunned by my answer and called me up to the front of the room and whispered to me... “Mr. Loria, you can’t be what you wrote on this paper. How did you come up with such an answer?” I wrote that I wanted to be like “MR. ED", a talking horse from the hit TV Show back in the 60's. My teacher didn't read my "dream" out loud but did actually call my Mom and I got in all kinds of trouble at home for embarrassing my family.

When I reached 8th grade, my teacher wanted to know once again what we wanted to be as we got ready to graduate into high school. Same answers came from my friends in class. My answer was: “Dolphin Trainer”. I was inspired by another hit TV show called "FLIPPER" and my dream then was to one day work at the San Diego Zoo! Four years later, my high school teacher surveyed his students to see what our career plans were as we got ready to enter adulthood. My answer was: “To work in the National Hockey League”.

That path took a lot of hardships and some stress a long the way at home to make that dream come to fruition. Why: As my Mom told me “how many kids from New Bedford, Massachusetts get to work in the NHL?” After all, back in 1974, I turned down a photography job and another as a silk screen printer of shower curtains at a pretty good wage… all because I had this dream of mine to work in hockey!

Gang, don’t stop dreaming and keep on believing. Last night as I was helping clean up the kitchen for my wife (who baked an endless supply of Christmas Cookies for our family), my trustworthy IPOD was glued to my ear. One song that came up on the playlist – Michael Bolton’s “GO THE DISTANCE” - inspired me to write this piece as a bit of Holiday Hope for our members that have the same dreams as I to someday work in the sports industry.

I’ll be there someday, I can go the distance
I will find my way, if I can be strong
I know every mile, will be worth my while
When I go the distance, I’ll be right where I belong
Down an unknown road, to embrace my fate
Though that road may wander, it will lead me to you
And a thousand years, would be worth the wait
It might take a lifetime, but somehow I’ll see it through
And I won’t look back, I can go the distance
And I’ll stay on track, no, I won’t accept defeat
It’s an uphill slope, but I won’t lose hope
Till I go the distance, and my journey is complete

To keep inspiring me everyday, my daughters set up my cell phone voice mail ringtone a few years ago to the actual MR. ED television show theme song as a reminder that I did not miss my CALL IN LIFE even though that adorable horse inspired my first set of dreams!


Jim Loria, Career Planning Expert for Sports Professionals
Email address: loria@sfstampede.com

Motivational Sayings to Inspire Your Work Week!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY WISHES TO YOU & YOUR FAMILY! SAFE TRAVELS! JIM

--------------------------------------------------------------------

You've got to get up every morning with determination if you're going to go to bed with satisfaction. QUOTED: George Lorimer

There are three types of people in this world: those who make things happen, those who watch things happen and those who wonder what happened. We all have a choice. You can decide which type of person you want to be. I have always chosen to be in the first group. QUOTED: Mary Kay Ash

You have to have confidence in your ability, and then be tough enough to follow through. QUOTED: Rosalynn Smith Carter

Fate knows where you are going, but it is up to you to drive there. QUOTED:
Michelle Keesling

Do or do not. There is no try. QUOTED: Yoda

Go for it now. The future is promised to no one. QUOTED: Wayne Dyer

A dream is your creative vision for your life in the future. You must break out of your current comfort zone and become comfortable with the unfamiliar and the unknown. QUOTED: K Denis Waitley



Jim Loria, Career Planning Expert for Sports Professionals
Email address: loria@sfstampede.com

MOTIVATIONAL QUOTES TO BOOST YOUR DAY!

Some terrific quotes I came across today to help boost your day!

Keep making footsteps!

Jim Loria

----------------------------------------------------------

“If you don’t go after what you want, you’ll never have it. If you don’t ask, the answer is always no. If you don’t step forward, you’re always in the same place” - Unknown

“It’s never too late to become what you might have been” - George Elliot

“Belief triggers the power to do” - David Schwartz

“Being defeated is often a temporary condition. Giving up is what makes it permanent” – Marilyn vos Savant, Columnist

“The act of taking the first step is what separates the winners from the losers" – Brian Tracy, Motivational Speaker

“Your body hears everything your mind says” – Naomi Judd, Singer/Songwriter

“There are no secrets to success. It is the result of preparation, hard work, and learning from failure" – Colin Powell, U.S. Secretary of State

“To give any less than your best is to sacrifice a gift” - Steve Prefontaine, Runner

“Great souls have wills; feeble ones have only wishes” - Chinese Proverb

“Hard work is a two-way street. You get back exactly what you put in” – Unknown

“Many people believe things happen to a reason, well I say go out and make those things happen” – Unknown

“Try and fail, but don't fail to try” – Unknown

“You give what you give, what you don't give is lost forever, this day will never come again” – Unknown

###



Jim Loria, Career Planning Expert for Sports Professionals
Email address: loria@sfstampede.com

WHEN TIMES ARE TOUGH (FOR JOBS). NEVER GIVE UP!

By now, I think you all know from my past postings that I have been inspired by music and so for a number of reasons: most notably to stay relaxed and also to relieve daily stress. Some songs can make me smile. Some tunes ignite my creativity. Some make me daydream back to moments I may have lived a lyric or two in my lifetime.

As I was glancing through some magazines at home with an IPOD attached to my ear, a particular song came up on the playlist that made me replay over and over. Why: It was a tune that I enjoyed a lot back in the year 2000 and hadn’t heard this one in quite some time. It’s a refreshingly catchy piece. Upbeat and a bit inspiring! The song title: “HOPE” and it is performed by Grammy award-winning artist Shaggy that deals mainly about his upbringing and family life. Here’s a sampling of his song lyrics:

(his mother) Gave us pride to survive, really showed us the way
Now I really understood what she (Mom) was tryin’ to say

She said, “Son there’ll be times when the tides are high
And the boat may be rocky, you can cry
Just never give up
You can never give up

In this life you could lead if you only believe
And in order to achieve what you need
You can never give up

And this hope
That keeps me holding on
On and on
And this hope
That makes me carry on

It got me thinking. One, I’ve had so many of my Mentoring (LinkedIn group site) members write me in the last month seeking “hope” and answers to finding a career and even more so, just a job. I do feel your anxiety! Many of you may have already browsed around and researched my background and wondered: “just who is this guy that is trying to mentor us and has been offering up all these postings?” What you don’t know and will not find is that I came from a family of eight. A divorced family at a very young age. After my parents separated, my Mom moved us all into a low income housing project as we grew up in Massachusetts. We all had to do odd jobs like babysit, shovel snow, rake leaves and deliver papers to earn extra money and help our Mom raise the family. I didn’t get a driver’s license until my early 20’s because cash flow was scarce in my house. Didn’t go to college. Resources were not there.

I am not shedding any tears. I fought through adversity. Kept believing. I used to tell my Mom back in high school that someday I was going to work in the big leagues of sports. That was my sole dream. I was a fan of all sports. Like many of you, I wrote all of the teams for jobs even though I had no background. I was just in high school. Yet, I broke into the hockey business a few years after graduating from school in 1977. My journey began in Billings, Montana. One person (Bob Strumm) hired me based on a 10-page letter that I had written. He phoned me at my home. Said my “enthusiasm was contagious”. Flew me to Billings for an interview and in that arrival weekend, he said “you’re hired!” I’ve never looked back. I still had no car. The hockey club paid me $7,000 as a salary. I was on Cloud “9”! I rode a bike to work every day through sleet or snow. Worked 80 hours a week. Three years after my arrival in Billings, I phoned my Mom with the news that I had made the BIG LEAGUES! I was hired by the NHL’s Washington Capitals!

To our young members and those that are seeking that one chance to show your skills… DON’T GIVE UP! You have to believe. Network. Develop your skills, most importantly YOU! Find a cheerleader in your life. A support system. We’ve all walked your path. Why, just last week, I hired a young lady that after three years of volunteer internship for our team – and doing so while working two-three paid jobs a week to make ends meet - she’s now on the same CLOUD “9” I experienced years ago. It can happen to you! “Just Never Give Up” as I’m hearing Shaggy sing in my earpiece!


Jim Loria, Career Planning Expert for Sports Professionals
Email address: loria@sfstampede.com

GETTING THE MOST FROM YOUR SPONSOR'S IMAGES!

In my recent blog on the ‘headache of starting up a new sports team season’, I want to highlight another area that is connected and involves your key revenue source – corporate partners.

Before I comment further, I must go back to my educational upbringing and let you know that my training - and good fortune - came from a Vocational High School in Massachusetts where my trade specialty was in Industrial Design (which centered on everything to do with creating art and graphics).

That knowledge has been such a payback for me throughout my career. This may sound strange to some of you but in all my years of taking on start-up franchises and fixing others, I have never permitted the corporate sponsors to purchase "specific locations" for signage and or publications. Yes, we have always given higher consideration to those that are investing top dollar. Where you get hurt is in laying out your sponsor’s messages.

I’ll use my sport of hockey as an example: we recently sold 57 rink board signs. Most are 8' in length by 33" tall. If you are selling your property as "specific locations", it will do your sponsor no good to have a wordy white background sign placed next to another busy white background display and another because each got locked into a sales location. My graphics company will arrive with me at the morning of our signage install day and lay out all of our signs on the ice floor. I will look at each and choose the location's by contrast. The RED McDONALD’S sign goes next to the WHITE sponsor sign with a simple logo display. The last thing you want is a wall with no contrast because you committed everyone to a spot.

From the moment I ever began my selling process, I usually told each partner that I will ENHANCE their visibility tenfold if they TRUST my ability to pick & choose where to place their investment. Here’s the trick to sell my point: ask one of your local TV stations to get you a 60 second tape of your game highlights on a CD. Watch carefully and see if you can recognize your business partners? Can you see their message? If you cannot, know that your partners can’t either. You want your partner’s to see themselves. That’s why most invest in sports sponsorships – to see themselves! You want your client’s customers to see them as well so that they’ll tell the sponsor.

You also want to KILL THE CLUTTER off every sign. There are reasons why McDONALD’S or SUBWAY brand their logos. Small businesses will WIN the war in branding if they follow suit! Don’t let the client sell you otherwise. In this world, we all GOOGLE so a sponsor doesn’t need to promote their phone, website and locations on a sign board. LESS CLUTTER SELLS MORE! LESS CLUTTER GETS THE SPONSOR’S MESSAGE SEEN MORE ON TV! You gutter ball it and your revenues will suffer the consequence!

As for publications, I have taken the same approach with my partners other than COVERS. Each season, I will instruct my printing rep to provide me with every ad pre-printed out in a Low Rez Color proof as well as all editorial. My rep will meet up with me the week before we go to print and I’ll look at each editorial page and match up the advertiser to BEST ENHANCE that page. EDITORIAL DESIGN HELPS BRING OUT YOUR ADVERTISER AND THE SPONSOR'S AD DESIGN HELPS BRING OUT YOUR EDITORIAL CONTENT! Again, we do give higher priority locations to the top sponsors!

Getting your client to signature of approval is like you & I choosing a restaurant location for our next meal. Once you are inside and the dinner plate is placed before you, now it’s the “presentation display” that SELLS YOUR BRAIN within a split second to devour that plate or not. Same with a sponsor when he sees his/her image at your facility. Doing the little things and giving that business property a chance to LOOK LIKE A MILLION ON THE DINNER PLATE will go a long way in increasing your team revenues!


Jim Loria, Career Planning Expert for Sports Professionals
Email address: loria@sfstampede.com

HEADACHES OF LAUNCHING A NEW SPORTS TEAM SEASON!

For those readers that are affiliated with a sports team program, you’ll understand and appreciate this piece.

I remember when moving into my current position in Sioux Falls, SD to start up an expansion hockey franchise, the first thing I told my business partners was that no matter how many year’s we work together, opening up a season is one of the most difficult things we’ll ever do. It is stressful as it gets, especially in areas of sponsorship fulfillment when you are responsible for producing the signage, publication ads and promotional items for starters. This process usually takes place within 30-45 days or so before the arrival of your home opener.

In a world that is driven by high tech gadgets and computer software, you’d think every business would be so aware of these alphabet letters: EPS, PDF and JPEG. They are computer file formats so needed to complete your sponsored projects yet in dealing with the client and your graphics company prior to a season’s start-up is enough to make your head of hair turn a different shade of grey each year! Example: A signage production company all prefer to deal with e-mail files submitted in an EPS format. When assembling your game program, yearbook or pocket schedules, the local printer will want that same customer of yours to submit its art work in PDF files. Oh, and when creating your sponsor’s website banner ads and pop-up messages, a designer will want mostly a JPEG working file!

As you lead into a season’s start-up, every employee feels the intensity and you start to budget your day’s accomplishments by the minutes versus hours. Then you get that client who procrastinates and is finally ready to get their art work to you for his signage. You open up your e-mail box and see this LOW REZ piece of art staring you in the eyes that the client obviously copied off from their website. They didn’t have anything else on hand to send. Yet, you are working with client on a 10-foot wall sign for your ballpark or a hockey rink board. Your graphics company barks at you and say “It’s too weak. I can’t deal with it!” We’ve all been there. You’re probably chuckling reading this. I just lived through this for the past two months, enough that I am still fighting sleep deprivation!

Yes, I love those clients that direct me to their ad agencies to work out the creative elements. That’s when life’s a beach but trying to fulfill the package elements signed on by your smaller (local) businesses is, and will always be, extremely challenging year-to-year. Most just do not understand the complexities of today’s technology nor have they ever invested in getting their brand identification assembled in all computer formats.

As you develop relationships with your business partners, do encourage the client to seriously invest in their logo and licensed marks and get them all reformatted in all current day working computer formats! It can really take a load of stress off the client and not to mention you as the sales rep. Any graphic design shop or agency can set up an EXTRANET SITE for the company (should be at no additional cost). This is a web access site that will store a client’s logos in all formats, from color-to-black & white.


Jim Loria, Career Planning Expert for Sports Professionals
Email address: loria@sfstampede.com

DON'T FEAR FAILURE! LEARN FROM YOUR MISTAKES!

Last night I was enjoying Star Trek – The Next Generation, one of my favorite TV shows. I think I’ve seen every episode with Jean Luc Picard and crew over the years. For some reason, as I was resting on the couch, a particular scene caught my attention. Two of the show’s characters - “Lieutenant Commander Data” and “Chief Engineer Geordi LaForge” - ventured into the ship’s holodeck to reenact the fictional character Sherlock Holmes from the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.

Data, who plays an android, frustrated LaForge because his positronic brain allowed him to compute things ahead so that he kept figuring out the story’s outcome within seconds which infuriated LaForge. The latter quickly exited the holodeck with Data soon to follow him wearing a facial expression of ‘what happened?’ The two characters then got into a discussion – witnessed by the ship’s Dr. Pulaski – in which LaForge complained that the fun is in the attempt to solve the mystery, not skip to the end.

Dr. Pulaski overhears the discussion and tries to counsel Data by saying: “To feel the thrill of victory, there has to be the possibility of failure”. She then added: “Data, there is some value in losing. We learn more from failure and our mistakes”.

That scene got me off the couch quickly and running around to find a post-it note and a pen. The words just stuck with me. Of course being in the sports business, I first thought about my coach. Thinking he’ll love this verbiage and more than likely use it for his players. Then, I was thinking about my staff and how I’m always trying to find that one motivational nugget. Wow, this could be the one! Thankfully, my wife had this one episode on DVR so I could replay the lines over and over!

What the Star Trek’s ship doctor said was so true when it comes to becoming a success in business and in life? Each of us has experienced that moment in time we wish we could wind the clock back and relive. I, for one, remember a time in my career when our hockey team’s game program arrived from the printer the day before the home opener and the page numbers were all omitted. It was a mistake we didn’t catch in the final blueline. It also messed up all of our PA announcements for this particular season when giving away prizes, etc. My GM gave me grief. Every year thereafter, I’ve never forgotten to proof the page numbers when we got to the final blueline.

Another time, we had our T-Shirt slingshot team on ice and there was a misfire going in the direction of the Zamboni Machine (that resurfaces the ice). The shirt went skidding down the ice towards the machine and got sucked in, thus forcing the Zamboni to break down LIVE on the ice in front of a full house. Not only did we delay the start of the next period but this error in judgment cost the club thousands! My boss screamed at me on behalf of the game staffer for 24 hours it seemed like. Never again have I ever permitted our promotional shooters to fire in the direction of the Zamboni when they have performed on ice since.

Two of my favorite quotes that deal with adversity come from Henry Ward Beecher: “One's best success comes after their greatest disappointments” and Zig Ziglar: “Others can stop you temporarily - you are the only one who can do it permanently”.



Jim Loria, Career Planning Expert for Sports Professionals
Email address: loria@sfstampede.com

SPORT MANAGEMENT STUDENT INTERVIEW WITH JIM LORIA

POSTED BY: Monica McAlister, Sport Management Student at George Mason University

Q) What are your specific duties as President of the Sioux Falls Stampede?

A) Even though I am President of the franchise, I do not get involved in the hockey operations nor offer any input. We keep that separate, which I have no problem. My sole focus is to administer the business side, where my chief responsibility is to lead the way in securing and finding new revenue opportunities. That would derive from all facets of ticket sales, corporate sponsorships, promotions, community programs, special events and social media developments. I am also responsible for the “image” of our franchise, all marketing, sales product development and our community relations projects and involvement in public affairs.

Q) Is there anything that inspires you every day to go to work? What is it?

A) I truly love my job. It is my hobby. I have been at this for 30-plus years and have never stopped loving what I do. What is most rewarding about my job is that we get to work with amateur players (considered the best in the country) at the ages of 16-20 and teach them how to smile, get involved with the community and interact socially. There are the relationships with our fans and business partners too. We create memories and winning business plans. I am also fascinated by people and learning how everyone connected the dots in their life and what footsteps they took to arrive in the position’s they currently occupy.

Q) What was your degree focus when you were in college?

A) I never went to college. I did attend a Vocational High School in Massachusetts where my trade I studied was Industrial Arts. That probably was a blessing in disguise for me because this 4-year trade school taught me a lot of creativeness, design work, printing, photography, graphics… all skills that my job takes on today and in years past. I’ve always been very hands on with each of our publication and print jobs more so because of my understanding and love for those jobs!

Q) What is your opinion on the ‘new’ Sports Management degrees programs?

A) I think the school's today have really elevated their Sport Management programs and are much more in tune with the needs of the sports business, especially with many school's now instituting actual SALES COURSES! It's the one skill most all employers in the sports business gripe about - the fact that the graduates just are not ready made to jump right in and be counted on to be an immediate contributer! Years ago, I remember when I tried to move away from my job in hockey with the Washington Capitals and despite a decorated resume (all PR at the time), I was even once told by a sports related agency that my resume said "I Couldn't Sell A French Fry!" That's when I started to understand my key to a successful future in this business was to find a way to become a "revenue generator".

Q) Can you tell me what are some skills that you feel are often over looked that are needed to be successful in the Sports Industry?

A) Writing, Speaking, Communications and Follow Through are at the top of the list. I see it with so many young kids coming out of college. They severely lack these skills, degreed or not. On the flip side, you can have the most decorated resume in the world but if you can't "smile"... "look someone in the eyes"... "effectively communicate", than the degree is wasted. I don't think I am off base by saying that with most employers today, your resume can get you the interview, but it’s that first glimpse of you & the employer when you first meet that probably cinches half of the door opening up for you or staying closed.

That's why internships are so important. You are on display everyday. Your work is measured. Your ability to figure things out. Do you come up with solutions for problems you may incur or complain? Do you get along with others internally & mesh in with all departments? I'd rather teach someone knowing that the individual & I connected the dots to one another, than take a resume star that’s on another agenda.

Q) What made you go into the Sport business?

A) I grew up in the heart of Red Sox, Celtics and Bruins Nation in New Bedford, Massachusetts. I loved hockey and developed a correspondence with a hockey player in Canada that ultimately led to an invited trip to see this person play in Junior Hockey (a level that the NHL drafted its players). This helped peak my interest in the sport and I ultimately got a job opportunity to work in Junior Hockey in of all places - Billings, Montana in 1977. That was my big break and led me to a 30-plus year career in hockey management. In Billings, I began as the ‘jack-of-all-trades’ guy. I was one of three employees on the team. I was the receptionist, the media relations guy, the game night entertainment director, community relations, and the ticket salesperson. Whatever needed to get done, I rolled up my sleeves and did it. I probably worked around 80 hours a week back then. I rode a bike to work and did not drive a car. Snow, rain nor sleet kept me from getting to the office. What helped me most in my young days in this business was getting my feet wet in all departmental areas like promotions, events, sales and even learning people skills, communications, attention to details and follow though. My management career has covered all levels in the sport - junior hockey, minor pro and the big leagues (Washington Capitals, Minnesota North Stars and Carolina Hurricanes).

Q) What was a single moment in your career that you feel was a turning point?

A) Working in Regina, Saskatchewan back in 1979, my third year in the business. I was 24 years old then and met a ton of hockey people from all levels of the sport. Regina was (and is today) considered one of the mainstream franchises in Junior Hockey Canada. Everyone came to this city to scout our players. The one year I worked there, we had a Championship team and three first round NHL Draft picks on the playing roster. During that year, I actually had five NHL team’s offer me a job, so the exposure helped me as well!! I chose the Washington Capitals from the offers that came in!

Q) What path did your career take to get where you are now?

A) Learning how to SELL is what propelled my career. Teams are always looking to find revenue generators and I’ve had many choices of places to work because of what I had accomplished. I guess what made me attractive to a sports team owner was the fact that I could sell, but also handle marketing, PR, community, advertising and business… so I became a cost savings employee for a franchise if that makes sense!

Q) Can you give details about if you had a specific career goal when you first started?

A) Yes, I told my family that I wanted to work in the National Hockey League back when I was in high school. Everyone chuckled. When I got the chance to get the job in Montana (1977), I remember telling my family that I’d be in the Big Leagues within three years! That was bold because when I see the world today and know how very RARE it has ever been for a Junior Hockey employee to go directly to the NHL, I feel extra proud knowing that I did get to the NHL in my third year of working in Junior Hockey and had five teams come recruit me for a job!

Q) Have you accomplished it?

A) I feel that I have accomplished a life’s dream but I also believe you never stop learning each and every day regardless of the job you have… so there are still roads to travel and footsteps to keep taking!

Q) What is the greatest reward associated with your current position?

A) Definitely watching our players grow into men and seeing them achieve both as pro hockey players but even better as individuals that got educated and found fantastic careers in business! We’ve had some of our alumni that are now lawyers, doctors, policeman, architects, landscapers and such! That is so awesome to think we played a role in their development as a teenager! Also, through our work in the community, we are very proud of the fact that our club has contributed well over $500,000 in cash donations to our community in ten seasons and have been recognized for this type of special achievement!

Q) How did you find balance between your professional life and your personal life?

A) It’s the hardest thing to do. I have never met a successful person that has shut off the job after 5 PM between Monday-Friday. For me, I do owe my wife at least a Million catch up points already for all the things she’s done for me to raise our family while my job has occupied my time. My wife gets all the credit for raising our family. She is my rock as are my three daughters! I am a big homebody when my Stampede clock shuts off so it’s rare if I travel out of town so at least in body I am home more than not. But this job does occupy your time 24 hours a day.


Q) Will you share some experiences you’ve had, in either your personal life or your professional life, which you feel were good learning experiences?

A) For any student, expose yourself to all aspects of the field that interests you most. Internships are the best way. Don’t limit yourself to just one – do sample a few. Don’t attempt to pay off student loans with the first job you latch on to. Get a job with a company that has a GREAT REPUTATION and one that will give you an opportunity to develop and get your feet wet. Become a SOLUTIONS person vs. a COMPLAINER with only problems.

CONNECTING WITH YOUR EMPLOYER! Just like finding a date, it’s the ability to connect. It’s in your look. Your eyes and how you smile. Resumes, sometimes, are not the most important. It’s that MOMENT of contact. I, for one, want charismatic people who can SMILE. A hard-working professionally mature person with Integrity, Character, a CAN DO individual who’s not afraid of hours. We’ll teach the rest.



Jim Loria, Career Planning Expert for Sports Professionals
Email address: loria@sfstampede.com

Helpful Sales Reminders for Today!

… Recruit and date first before presenting the Marriage Proposal. The old saying, never kiss on the first date.

… Avoid only calling on a client, despite what your relationship may be, if it’s continually just to “Sell an Idea” or “Ask for a Favor”. The client will get tired of your voice. Like a real life marriage, you need to keep your partners off balance. Keep the relationship interesting and fun for both parties!

… If you are in position to do so, one of the best (trade) deals you can make is with your local Cookie Design Company. They can developed your sports team uniform (or business logo) cookies. For the price of a small ad or some tickets, you can secure 15-20 deliveries over a year. Perfect opportunity to surprise a client when something special happens, welcome a new sponsor to your (team's) family or just say thank you for the business!! You can also work this through a Fruit Basket company too. You can never say THANK YOU enough to your clients or customers!

… Never discount how important it is to develop relationships with the soft drink street reps, the beer guys, your grocery store partner, c-store personnel, etc. I stay in touch with them quite a few times each season, trying to learn their business, get updates on in-store vendors, acquire contact names, see who has co-op funds and such. A lot of times, the names you're acquiring will never be seen in a local phone book. Some might be regional! On the flip side, year's ago, one of the best trades I ever made was giving a local caterer a pair of season tickets in exchange for his Pharmaceutical Sales Rep list!! Sold a Suite and 48 season tickets off of that prize list!

… Merchandising is an important element too. Don’t take for granted how powerful a sports team product such as a Hockey Puck, a Football, Basketball or a Baseball (and Bat) can be! You want your team (company logo) product to be seen in those key corporate offices. That $5 cost is worth “thousands” in perception & value to have your team/business viewed on Mr. CEO’s desk! I remember once years ago that in order for me to close out a deal, I had to get a Joe Montana Autographed Football for a National Hardware chain.

… Your success is all about the reputation you develop and your ability to deliver on performance! Treat everyone you meet like it’s your last friend on earth whether he/she is the CEO or the Intern! Focus always on the little things! Example: Something as simple as sending your female clients that have children a Happy Mother's Day when that comes up or a Happy Valentine's Day wish too! Same for all clients, take time to wish them the best during each of the major holidays (Thanksgiving/Christmas/New Years/4th of July/Labor Day). Everyone likes to be thought of!

... HANDWRITE THANK YOU NOTES when you close out a deal with a brand new client or one that maybe was a bit of a struggle!

… From a sports team perspective, try to capture e-mail addresses from your meetings and social gatherings. As for myself, I develop grouping lists on my e-mail address book. Lists such as “Group Leaders”… “Season Ticket Clients”… “Partial Plan Buyers”… “Corporate Sponsors”… “Future Sponsor Prospects”, etc. I communicate with these people all year; sometimes even survey them periodically to receive input. I tend to do as much business nowadays from e-mail postings as I do picking up the phone. KNOW THAT MY SUCCESS ON THE LATTER IS ONLY DUE BECAUSE OF THE RELATIONSHIPS THAT I’VE DEVELOPED WITH THE RESPONDEES!

… You build EQUITY POINTS everyday with every person you meet and or speak with. Never let the walls around you get stained or erode by being sloppy on follow through or not responding to a problem. AGAIN, YOU’LL ALWAYS HEAR ME SAY “IT'S ALL THE LITTLE THINGS YOU DO TODAY THAT MAKES THE BIG THINGS HAPPEN TOMORROW!”


Jim Loria, Career Planning Expert for Sports Professionals
Email address: loria@sfstampede.com