WHAT SPELLS CAREER SUCCESS?

I recently came across a copy of the Sporting News and thoroughly enjoyed a piece on Miami Dolphins’ quarterback Chad Pennington and his background got me thinking a lot about "what spells career success?”

For those of you that do not follow sports, Pennington led the New York Jets to the playoffs three times during his NFL career in the ‘Big Apple’ only to be unceremoniously cut once his team decided to acquire future Hall of Famer Brett Favre prior to last year. Pennington quickly seized a new opportunity with Miami. Walked into his first huddle with the club and went on to engineer one of the greatest comeback seasons in pro sports history - piloting the Dolphins to an 11-5 record and a postseason berth following a year in which Miami posted their worst ever win-loss campaign (1-15 in 2007).

When the Sporting News’ author asked Pennington “What is Success?” The NFL veteran responded: “That is a question I’m asked as a professional athlete time and time again. Sometimes, we think success is merely a destination, but it’s actually a journey”.

Pennington, who has fought adversity in college and in the pros mostly through injuries, further stated: “I didn’t say accept failure. I said embrace it. In our society today, we’ve labeled failure as taboo. We’ve been conditioned to avoid failure at all costs, and not embrace our mistakes and use them as learning tools. How do we truly know what success is without experiencing failure?”

Which leads me to another form of success, a story of mine dating back to 1977 when I first began my hockey management career in Billings, Montana. After two years with the junior hockey team, I received my first big league job offer to join the Minnesota North Stars at the young age of 23. Flattered, I agreed to their terms and joined the organization’s PR department. After a couple weeks on the job, I made a decision of a lifetime… one that would stun my bosses. I was going to walk away from my life’s dream. Yes, my bosses were not pleased. My rational: The job and my belonging at the time seemed to intimidate me? I just did not feel mature enough to handle the tasks in front of me. I purposely took a pay cut and returned back to junior Hockey to work for my old boss (from the Billings franchise) that was now running the Regina (Sask., Canada) Pats.

Upon my return, the Pats paid me $10,000 in Canadian funds. I rode a bicycle to work every day. Had no car license (yes, stubborn ole’ me!) But, I felt like I was on Top of the World once again! I viewed that one extra year as if I received my college degree in sports team operations and also in life! Did I ever regret walking away from the big leagues? Never! Would I have stumbled if I had stayed in that original position? Probably so!

That bit of adversity paid off for me. As my first season in Regina wound down, I was then given five (5) National Hockey League job offers to move back up to the big leagues. I accepted the Washington Capitals’ employment offer.

My one step back in time set me up for a sports team career that would never have flourished if the SOMEONE in me had put my ego before my heart back then. I, too, like Chad Pennington, found out that success truly does come in the form of a journey and not as a destination!


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