Manage Your Time NOW Part II

The summer I returned to the Nuggets as a sales associate was life changing. Once again, I didn’t feel the pressure of real life and could really learn the job, live the job, and continue to develop professional relationships around the organization. As a sales associate I was primarily involved in making cold calls to businesses to get them interested in purchasing season tickets. (For you sports fans, this was waaaaayyyy before the Camello Anthony era), so anyone in ticket sales for the Nuggets had their work cut out for them.

I welcomed every opportunity, and actually made a significant number of sales. The best compliments I got that summer were from some of the business leaders I was cold calling. They were impressed with my tactics to actually get them on the phone, as well as convince them to buy tickets. So I actually got quite a few job offers from the companies I was trying to sale to.

But that summer also helped me to begin considering what my life would be like if I continued on that professional path. Although I had no real life issues to deal with, my co-workers did, and I could not avoid noticing the pressure they felt in needing to make sales so they could do things like pay their rent. They felt the stress of the job and showed me the reality associated with a commission related job. This made me think about if I really wanted to stay in professional sport ticket sales. I considered how closely my life was tied to how players did on the court, or elements I completely had no control over. So even though the sport industry is an exciting industry, I wanted to have a little bit more control over things.

If you work hard, especially before you get to college, the right people will eventually take notice. On top of that, the right people will likely talk to you, mentor you and provide you professional insight if they meet you while they are still young and not necessarily needing anything from them but a little guidance and influence. Try to be different than so many others who wait until they are in college or have graduated college, because then a lot of people assume you are eventually going to ask for a job, making them less likely to meet with you or give you that initial opportunity without going through the official channels (in other words, submitting a resume, interviewing, ect.).

And the best part is, if you decide you really didn’t like the experience, time is still on your side and you can start seeking out other opportunities. So as you continue on in the same field or another area, you now have some professional experience, professional contacts, and a clearer idea about what you would or would not like to do as a career. Think about it as being in your own episode of MTV’s “Made.”

So I will say it again, make the time for professional development activities while still in high school. It’s never too early to start trying on your future life for size and making sure it fits.

Cordially,
Chrystal