Wow!! Words cannot describe this day. It was one of those days where you wake up the next day and hope that everything that happened the day before is still actually true. It all started yesterday when I got an email from our contact at Adidas confirming an interview that we had all but given up on. We set out for Adidas this morning around 9:30 in order to be there for our 10:15 interview. Without getting lost, we arrived at the "Adidas Village" right on time(15 minutes early). They call it a village for a reason. Each building is color coded and they even have a skybridge and a soccer field.
Quote of the day: When trying to get into the building Sipe rang the doorbell. The security guard answered with "Hello, can I help you." Sipe responded "Yeah...We're trying to get in." Really Sipe?!? What else would we be doing?
So anyhow, inside we met our incredible host Leah Harrison. She is a lovely lady with a contagiously positive spirit about her. After showing us around some of the offices we sat down to meet with the Director of Global Sports Marketing- Jim Gatto. It was a very interesting interview. In a nutshell he deals with all the NBA agents and players that adidas sponsors. He also deals with the marketing that adidas does for basketball all over the world. In fact, he is heading to Italy tomorrow to scouting upcoming talent.
From there we had a really cool opportunity to meet with 4 of the adidas soccer guys. They were all really cool guys who have all of our dream jobs. They wouldnt allow us to take any pictures or video in the room we were in because it had unreleased shoe models, jerseys, and balls in there. They talked with us about uniform, shoe, and ball design, local events, and everything that goes into promoting adidas soccer in the world-particularly america. They showed us the entire 2010 cleat line of adidas, let us see and hold David Beckhams cleats. It is unbelievable how they bend over backwards for their clients. David Beckham has writing, initials, and flags on his cleats. For heaven's sake he wears a size 9.25.
Following that interview we continued to get a more expansive tour of the building followed by another interview. They really spoiled us I know. The last person we interview was name Tony Holmes. He is the senior merchandising manager for originals. This man oversees everything that goes on with the adidas heritage line (all their lifestyle, trendy clothes).
This is where the story gets even better. If you are thinking it cant get any better I dont blame you...I didnt think it could either. But it did. As we walked out of the last interview Leah handed us 2 pair of sneakers. Apparently we have the sample size and they have shoes to give away. We then followed Leah down to the employee store where she informed us that we each had $150 to spend at the store as a way of thanking us for coming to visit them. Yeah, I dont really get it either. They let us visit and interrogate their company and they reward us. Wild stuff. If you dont support Adidas you should. Its a solid company and some great people. Leah Harrison is a saint and my new friend.
Following our Adidas adventures we zipped over to One Center Court to meet with the Director of Game operations fro the Portland Trailblazers. We had an incredible time meeting and interviewing Todd Bosma. He is a real laid back, down to earth guy who truly enjoys what he does for a living. The trailblazers seem like a really unique organization who are trying to do things well but also do them in the right way.
What have we learned from these interviews? Well Im glad you asked. All of the people we have been able to meet and particularly the people we have been able to interview have taught us a lot of things. If there is one thing I have learned it is that enjoying what you do is an incredible thing and too rare these days. Not enough people truly look forward to getting up for work each day. The people we have talked to have stressed time and time again that to really enjoy your job you must find your passion and follow it.
Relationships are another big theme that have been stressed. Take time to meet new people, network, and use connections that you are able to make. The job market is all about networking and seizing opportunities that come along. In an industry like the sports market I cant help but believe that these things really are the keys to success. It is my hope that I too may find the courage to chase my passions and never settle for anything less than my best like so many of the people we have met on this trip.
The rest of today was spent on the couch, on the trampoline or in the yard of our excellent host. It has been an excellent stay in Portland and certainly a stop we wont soon forget. Tomorrow morning after 13 states, over 5,000 miles, and millions of memories, we start to head EAST. Its been an incredible trip out west and truthfully a little sad to be heading the other direction tomorrow morning.
"Do not let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do."- John Wooden
We started this trip with the unreasonably high hopes of somehow connecting with John Wooden while we were in LA. Although we didnt get to meet the man, we did buy his book and are in the process of reading it throughout the trip. I believe this quote carries with it a lot of power. Every day of our lives we are all told what we cant do and what is not possible to achieve. What if we started every day taking steps to accomplish everything that we ARE capable of? The more we allow doubts and others criticism affect our potential, the less we are able to accomplish. Accomplishment is born from belief. The more we believe we can do something, the more possible that reality becomes. If we all believe in ourselves just a fraction more tomorrow than we do today I think we will all be surprised at the naysayers we leave behind.
Yellowstone National Park tomorrow with Yogi and Booboo. Gonna get me a picnic basket.
Brett
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