What A Director Of Sports Business Development At Exos Wishes They Had Known Before Entering The Sports Industry

This industry is very much about what you put in. It's not enough to just follow the rules; you won't get far that way. You have to put in the hard work.

You need to be willing to do the things others don't want to do to prove your dedication. It's not about staying for a certain number of hours to prove yourself, or trying to ruin your life over it.

There's a level, especially in the sports world, of showing you're dedicated to the cause, the purpose, and the people before they can trust you. It's a huge trust component, and that might be different from other industries. You really have to let people trust you before the work follows.

I didn't learn how real that was until after college. As an intern, you're programmed to do grunt work and accept it. But when you enter the workforce, you have this idea that you'll be respected among everyone just because you're there.

That's not how it works. You're coming in at the bottom and still have to prove yourself to everyone who has been putting in the effort. Any advice I give is to put in the work, put your head down, and do the job. Wait for respect to come.

It's not instant gratification; it's not overnight. It takes time. You can't expect a promotion in your first year. You are playing the long game. Respect the process and don't expect a certain dollar amount or title right out of college. That is just not going to happen. That's a reality check many people need.