Just Did It.

“Why would you leave such a great job?”

It’s often a question that either I’m asked or that I ask myself. Frankly, I’ve done it more than I’d have expected, hoped, or would have liked to. Yet here I find myself again.

Years removed from praying for the exact job I wanted, I found myself in it Alhamdulillah. Now, I’m choosing to leave. So…why?

First, let’s rewind. Years ago, Nike had just opened a role leading their Global Social Activation team, and I threw my hat in the ring, but ultimately did not land the role. Around the same time I was interested in roles with two other brands…

The first being Uninterrupted, the athlete empowerment brand founded by one of my favorite athletes. The second being the National Football League. Ultimately, I landed the role at Uninterrupted, and decided to leave my favorite sports team in the Minnesota Timberwolves to instead work for one of my favorite athletes.

As luck had it, my favorite sports brand (Nike) came calling while I was at Uninterrupted.

I knew that it came with some personal challenges, most prominently that my wife and I had just settled in Los Angeles a few months prior and the workplace was based in Beaverton, Oregon. So I did what I’ve always done…

Took the leap and bet on myself. I figured out a travel schedule that allowed me to leave Tuesday AM from Los Angeles, work in Oregon during the prescribed in-office days, and be back home by dinnertime Thursday. I calculated the personal costs I’d incur. I had it down to a tee.

Working for one of the biggest brands on the planet, let alone of my favorites? I know I’m wired a bit insanely when it comes to work, but regardless, as I consulted my inner circle and reflected internally, I knew no matter the time and cost, this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that would be worth it.

And it absolutely was. Working on some of the biggest campaigns in sports, for the biggest sports brand, and leading one of the biggest social media accounts in the WORLD? Professional dream come true.

Personally, though, it of course came with an added layer of the challenges that we all often face in the sports world. For me, it’s been over a decade of prioritization of my work-life over my free time, my family time, and my personal time. In the sports world, that is hard to avoid, but the level can be tweaked based on other factors.

And as much as I’ve always believed in “the grind” and prided myself upon + prioritized my life based upon the aspirations I’ve had professionally, an offer came that seemed to not only afford me those same professional passions, but to more of a degree than ever before, the personal ones, too.

As God has often done Alhamdulillah, a past door that was closed, reopened. The NFL offered me a role based in Los Angeles that I’m thrilled about.

So with that, as the mantra of my favorite sports brand states, I decided to Just Do It. Again.

Let’s get it.

Leaving Home

Job interviews never phase me…

At least they hadn’t until December 18, 2017.

On that day, I stood in front of eight C-Level Executives and Vice Presidents at the Minnesota Timberwolves and Lynx offices and pitched the group on why I should be their new Senior Manager of Digital Content.

This was my hometown team. For years, I had a vision journal that included the goal “return to Timberwolves and Lynx.” I quite literally created a new email address and shot a rogue message to the team’s then Vice President of Marketing, Lindsay Milne, for a shot at this opportunity.

So, for this one time, I was nervous. Knees weak, arms heavy, all of it.

Despite the uneasiness I felt, that day changed my life.

For the last four-plus years, “work” has entailed things that I could only dream of.

Traveling with my favorite NBA team on chartered flights, concepting campaigns for uniforms that won’t see the public eye for a year, sending players photos that I took of them while seated on the hardwood, working on six-figure-plus budget ideas, and so much more.

Even when I dreamt about this opportunity, I genuinely never imagined it to this extent.

And though these experiences have been incredible, what I’m most proud of is the feats our digital content team has achieved and how much our department has grown.

We won an NBA Digital Innovator Award, Hashtag Sports Award, were #1 in the NBA in Twitter video revenue, have been Top 5 in Engagement Rate across platforms over the last four years, and that’s just to name a few.

The comparison of where we started as a department in 2018 versus where we’re at in 2022 is so drastic, words wouldn’t do it justice. That’s a testament to our leaders’ willingness to listen and learn the value of digital content, and the content team’s willingness to go above and beyond job responsibilities.

Each and every day, I came to the office thrilled that I get to call this work. It’s an unrivaled feeling to deeply believe in the place you work, love what you do, and enjoy who you’re working with.

Those who know me know that my passion for the Wolves & Lynx is rivaled only by my passion to impact the sports world. Specifically when it comes to sports teams, I’ve been very vocal in regards to a need for improvement when it comes to competitive pay, balance, hiring practices, and growth opportunities.

Those concerns still exist industry-wide, but I genuinely believe that the Minnesota Timberwolves and Lynx are one of, if not the most forward-thinking sports team when it comes to these issues. Whenever I had constructive criticism, it was heard and addressed. I’ve learned immensely from the leaders and my colleagues within this organization. There are too many to name, but I’ll say this: from the bottom of my heart, thank you for the last four-plus years. I’m forever grateful for the memories, the lessons, and the time I’ve had the pleasure to share with you all.

As I embark on a new journey, I’ll look back fondly on this experience and strive to emulate the culture and trust that I’ve been fortunate to be a small part of.

Knowing how much I love the Timberwolves & Lynx, and as they continue on what’s sure to be a meteoric rise on and off the court, I’ve continually been asked “are you sure this is the right move?”

The truth is, betting on myself is and has always been the right move.

That’s what brought me back here, after all.

And who knows, maybe one day….

🐺