When I first signed up to officiate hockey as a 15-year-old looking to earn extra cash, I never could have predicted the major influence this experience would have on my core values, management style and overall professional career path.
I’ve played hockey since I could stand up on skates, as it was the dominant sport in my small hometown of Trenton, Michigan, population 18,000. At the time, you could only participate if you lived somewhere cold and your family had the resources to support your hobby. Throughout my childhood, I remember feeling grateful to be part of the hockey community since it was a cultural staple in my school and town.
It’s been nearly 25 years, and I still make time to officiate— although the American Hockey League games I line today look quite different from the rinks I grew up on. I went from reffing in my small town, to Triple A and Junior A, to lining for the AHL. And over time, I learned numerous life lessons which have inspired my professional career.
I’ll share my top four with you today:
Lesson 1: More Skill Equals More Money
When I began looking for jobs as a teenager, the minimum wage was $4.25. I knew I had developed a specific skill set as a hockey player, so I headed to my local ice rink while other teens were applying to the nearest fast-food place. The job paid $10 per mite-level game, and I was making more than twice the minimum wage in half the time. I was thrilled.
The experience taught me that unique skills always reward accordingly. Of course, that’s not to say minimum wage employees aren’t incredibly valuable, driven and hard-working. However, there are undeniable benefits to finding a job that not everyone can do as well as you. If you can identify your niche talent and run with it, you’ll see more professional and financial success down the road.
Lesson 2: Hard Work Pays Off
As my officiating career evolved, I found that the more time I put into bettering myself and seeking out new certifications, the higher level of games I was asked to ref. Through hard work and dedication, I made it from my small hometown to the AAA and AHL, which are a single step below the National Hockey League.
From this, I learned that even the humblest ideas can turn into something great if you put in enough passion and commitment. Take my own career, for example. When my business partner, Scott, and I started an agency in our mid-20s, we were assisting four clients from our apartment. That humble business has since evolved into a full-service agency that’s growing every day.
Lesson 3: Expect to Adapt
Officiating hockey also taught me how to manage a variety of people and situations at a young age. Although I was just a kid, I was expected to keep players, coaches, scorekeepers and parents happy while ensuring the many intricacies of the sport were followed. This was a lot to juggle at once, but I thrived on it. In fact, all that chaos gave me comfort later on as a business owner.
Today I have the same mindset in my professional life: to succeed, you have to roll with the punches and adapt to any challenge that comes your way. I’m living proof — we launched a new company one month before a worldwide pandemic hit, and still ended 2020 on a successful, optimistic note. The same rules apply when stepping on the ice. Every game is different, but if you’re prepared, you can persevere through the unknown.
Lesson 4: People Are Counting on You
Finally, officiating gave me a strong sense of accountability. At the time, most teenagers could get away with showing up late to their job at a retail store or fast-food chain. But in my case, I had entire teams waiting on me for the go-ahead to play. I discovered how important it was to always be responsible, reliable and prompt, and I carry these values with me to this day.
The same could be said for my work life. If I don’t complete a task, it simply won’t get done — and that could have a negative effect on my coworkers’ reputations. It all comes down to owning the fact that other people should never have to pick up your slack.
After all, if you aren’t there to blow the whistle, the game will never start.
Want to learn more about my story? I’d love to help inspire your team’s professional goals. Book me for a virtual speaking engagement!