Dr. John Thomas, Master Coach--Leading by Example



Dr. John Thomas coaches, teaches, models and inspires...

"A good coach will make his players see what they can be
rather than what they are." -unknown


John Thomas realized at an early age that he had a calling and a gift, coaching and leadership came naturally to him and others responded to his leadership.  "Because of that realization, anything I do in the world of soccer is never a chore, or a job, its fun, its my destiny."  Dr. JT as he is fondly called by his peers, is driven by the fact that many people don't take advantage of opportunities.  "I realize that doors are often opened to us by grace, by it is our responsibility to walk through that door and take advantage of the opportunity afforded us." 

John Thomas has certainly taken advantage of many opportunities throughout his life and has also created opportunities in order to meet his goals and his personal mission to lead and impact others.  John grew up in a small town in New Jersey, divided by tracks that symbolically and physically separated blacks and whites from one another.  It was a poor town that could not afford many athletic programs at its high school but it did offer soccer.  Soccer became the sport that all of the athletes played in his town and John fell in love with it.  He counts his high school soccer coach, Vince M. with being an amazing role model both as a coach and as a person.  "He was one of the first men I met who stood up for the black students at our school.  He allowed seven or eight black athletes on the soccer field at a time when that simply wasn't happening.  It was the early 1970's and we often found ourselves with police escorts to and from games as well as at games to protect us from the hatred and racism directed as us and our coach," John reflected.  "But despite the tension, controversy and drama surrounding our team, Coach M led us to a 78-1 record during my high school soccer career and I earned the distinction of being a HS All American player."

John went on to college at the University of Maryland where he earned a BA in Sociology and continued to play soccer. "I knew that I wanted to help people and my studies in sociology make it easier for me to deal with the whole person, not just the athlete."  After college John joined the Army, determined to earn a living despite a bad economy.  John would spend the next 23 years in the military, 11 in the Army and 12 in the Navy, earning the rank of Staff Sergeant in the Army and the rank of Lieutenant Commander in the Navy by the time he retired in 2003. While in the armed forces John coached the United States, All Navy, All Army AND All Marine soccer teams, winning gold and silver medals in the Armed Forces tournaments.  As the Head Coach of the US Armed Forces National Soccer Team, John led the team to international competition in Italy where the team won First Sportsmanship honors awarded by the International Military Sports Council. He has the distinguished honor of being the only coach to train US Navy, Army, Marine AND United States Armed Forces soccer teams.

While continuing in his role as a coach, soldier, husband and father, John never stopped striving to improve himself academically and earned both a Masters and a PhD in Business Administration.  John has held positions as Assistant Director of Coaching for US Youth Soccer, Adjunct Professor for National University in San Diego, CA, Head Soccer Coach for San Diego Mesa College, and Coach for two Olympic Development Teams.  He currently is running Thomas Soccer, his own company designed to engage young people and train coaches/leaders in under resourced areas.  He knows that soccer provides opportunities across the life spectrum and wants to open that door for young people growing up today. 

One of John's other role models, his Black Studies teacher in HS, Mr. Crawford, taught him to hold his head up and work with pride.  "He encourage us to put our heads up, and challenged us not to look down or slump over when we walked.  That was powerful and important to my classmates, teammates and I.  I want to have that kind of impact, teaching kids about leadership, collaboration and success."  Dr. JT thinks that is what makes him a 'Smart Guy'.  "I believe that if you fail, get back up and try it again.  It's never too late.  Ask for help. Pride can get in the way, don't let it keep you from taking opportunities to move forward and be better."  Dr JT wants all emerging 'Smart Guys' to "always do the best you can, not the best they think you can do, but the best YOU know you can do."

Coach 'Smart Guy',
John Thomas

John is currently working hard with the Black Soccer Association whose mission is to promote soccer in the African American community.  You can learn more about their work at:

http://www.blacksoccerassociation.org/Home_Page.html

Modeling Success: Keith's Story

 Whether kids are striving to be the President, a doctor, a lawyer, an engineer, a CEO, a professional athlete or an entertainer, obtaining all of these careers takes a lot of dedication, focus, hard work, studying and listening. So it seems obvious that teachers, mentors and coaches are a very important factor in guiding youth towards their desired careers.  'Smart Guy' Keith Haliburton guides youth from all of those positions.  He is the Physical Education Department Head, Head Coach for football, cross country, track and field, and an Assistant coach for the basketball teams at Forest Oak Middle School, in Fort Worth, Texas. Keith understands the importance of reaching kids early and helping guide them in the correct path.  “I am a mentor, surrogate parent, counselor, trainer, and on many occasions chauffeur.” Haliburton explained. “I have a lot of responsibilities, but I feel it is the calling God placed on my life to be what I am today.”

Haliburton had no idea that this is where he would end up as he began his college career at Grambling State University. Originally, he had aspirations of being a Physical Therapist. However, after working with the football team’s training staff, and seeing the inside scoop on what athletic trainers have to work with and work on, “I felt it wasn’t for me.” Haliburton said.

During Haliburton’s first semester of his sophomore year, while taking an education class, the teaching path opened up for him. He decided that he would be the “light” for the next generation that others were for him in his life.  “I never saw myself as a leader type,” Haliburton said. “Especially being able to lead young minds to a better way of thinking, acting, way of life through education, but after taking a class or two, I began to see how it made total sense for my life.” 

This path to becoming an educator, coach and mentor was not a smooth one for Haliburton. “I grew up on the north side of Fort Worth, up the road from “Dog City,”  and Samson Park, over on 32nd street.” Haliburton said. “At the time the 'Crips' street gang was prevalent. My environment was tainted by poverty. Racism was evident in both the community and in the school I attended. I was called all kinds of racial slurs. I even remember having to face bigotry from educators when I was trying to get into honors classes. I even had to deal with being called a 'sell out' or ‘white boy,’ or 'gay' my first year at Grambling, because I was about my books, and track and field, and I did not put a lot of emphasis on the women.”

As a devout Christian, Haliburton used his faith in God and prayer to get over most of the obstacles that appeared to block his path.  “With most of my challenges, I got over them through prayer and talking with people I trusted like my parents and close friends,” Haliburton continued. “I sacrificed the negative temporary pleasures of life for the positive pleasures of the future. I took time to really assess situations and cross reference them with other peoples experiences so that I would (a) not make the same mistakes and (b) make good use of the resources I had been given.”  Keith understands that there are going to be times that he will make decisions that are not the best, but as long as he takes the opportunity to learn from them and assure that bad decision will not occur twice, he believes that is what makes him a 'smart guy'.

“Do I make mistakes, heck yeah! Am I perfect, not even in the slightest. However, as I make decisions I think heavily about the consequence on a heavenly perspective and not a worldly perspective. I would also have to say taking in wise counsel (from people who have been there and truly have good in their heart for you and knowing how to discern those types of people). Always making sure that if I give my word; I follow up on what I promised, to give the best of my ability. I also feel choosing to go to school at Grambling State University was a pivotal decision in my life. Without them, I wouldn’t be where I am today… I am somebody.”

Haliburton always advises people to live life fully, yet not at the expense of someone else’s happiness. Treat people, as you would expect to be treated. Sacrifice and work hard to achieve your success. Appreciate those that love and respect you through reciprocation of the same sentiments.  Forgive others for what they do to you, because it allows greater personal growth. Do right by your body because you only have one, exercise! “For those that are believers in Jesus,” Haliburton said. “I would also offer to you to remember who’s you are, and remember he’s watching and evaluating your actions to see how you’re bringing glory to his name. And for my non-believers, do well in the world there is enough bad already.”

Haliburton is consistently impacting the lives of the youth that he comes in contact with on a daily basis. He is providing the kids with a positive African American male role model that many of the kids do not see until they get to Forest Oak. Haliburton routinely pushes his students to be the best that they can be and to go after what they want out of life, whether it being a professional athlete, doctor, lawyer, president or even his own profession, a teacher and coach.

“My focus is on the kids I serve.” Haliburton said. “We as teachers, coaches and after school programs are already  under funded and now the nation is on the bandwagon of cutting funding for education and youth development. Our youth don’t stand a chance with this way of thinking, it simply can't be every man for themselves."

An Educated 'Smart Guy',

Keith



a student athlete from Keith's school

Embracing Second Chances--Davone Bess' Story

Everything that you do presents an opportunity to learn.  Take a moment to reflect back on your life and think to yourself; How did I get to the point to where I am today? Was there a defining moment that occurred in your life that you can remember and could that moment be the reason you're in this position today? For Davone Bess, age 25, his life experiences, particularly the harsh and painful ones, have given him opportunities to learn and grow into the man he is today. Bess is a prime example of perseverance, focus and optimism, and getting back up after you fall down. 

“I am one of the starting wide receivers in the NFL for the Miami Dolphins,” said Davone Bess. and it's something that I always wanted to do. I grew up playing football, baseball and basketball, and my goal, my dream was to always become a professional athlete.”  That dream of becoming a professional athlete became a reality when Bess was signed as an undrafted rookie free agent by the Miami Dolphins in 2008, after a stellar college career at the University of Hawaii.  

During his three years in Hawaii, Bess put together excellent receiving numbers and quickly became quarterback Colt Brennan’s 'go to' receiver. As a freshman he caught 89 passes for 1,124 yards and 14 touchdowns and was named First team All Conference along with Conference Freshman of the Year. He improved on those numbers his sophomore year by catching 94 passes for 1,220 yards and 15 touchdowns earning First Team All Conference honors. In his final season in Hawaii Bess caught 108 passes for 1,266 yards and 12 touchdowns while gaining National attention the Associated Press named him to the All American Team along with his third consecutive First Team All conference honors.  

These stats and accolades gained by Bess are impressive. They become even more impressive if you go back into his life just a few years prior to his arrival to the Aloha State. Bess is a native of Oakland, CA and grew up with his mother and brother not very far from the Oakland Coliseum, home of the Oakland Raiders. This part of Oakland is known for its negative reputation, and its ‘mean streets’. And like many other young men growing up in these communities, Bess’ living environment presented him with negative opportunities and obstacles.

“There were a whole lot of obstacles that I had to overcome. The first one was that my mom gave birth to me when she was 15 years old. She was a kid having a kid.” Bess explains. “She then had my brother at the age of 17. So here is this young African American woman with two kids by the age of 18. The odds of being successful were against us-- my mom not having an education, not really having the opportunity to go to college, living off of governmental assistance-- it was a set up for failure.” Bess was forced to meet these obstacles face to face on a daily basis as a child growing up. Instead of using those obstacles as a crutch or an excuse to fail, he decided to look in different ways to overcome the potential trap that many black males get caught in.

“I have always believed in a higher power and that God puts everybody in certain situations for a reason.” Bess said. “I have had a lot of people that were influential in my life. People that helped me overcome because I definitely could not have done it by myself. I reached out to people when I needed them and those people never failed me.”  To dodge some of the pressures of the streets, Bess focused his attention to sports and athletics. He attended and graduated from Skyline High School, where he was a star athlete in football, baseball and basketball. During his senior year he earned his first scholarship to Oregon State. However, his dreams of becoming an Oregon Beaver were soon shattered. Bess he lost his scholarship after allowing a 'friend' to put stolen items in his car. His bad choice earned him over a year and a half of incarceration at the  Byron Boys Ranch Juvenile Facility in Byron, California.

  

During his time in the juvenile facility, Bess played on a seven man flag football team created by the facility. He devoted his time to focusing on his future, listening to advice from his counselors, and trying to be a positive role model for his peers at Byron. Bess often sought advice from and share his dreams with probation counselor Glenn Woods. Woods reflects back on the time when Bess initially entered the facility.  “The first time I met Davone, I saw a very mature person,” Woods recalled. “He was down about his situation but after talking with him, he understood that he had to do the time and focus on getting out. He talked about wanting to get into a university and make better choices, when he was released from the facility. He got into a workout regime and he would go out there daily and give it his all. I used to tell him to slow down but he kept telling me that this was something that he had to do. He would get up early to go and workout for two to three hours a day--he was extremely focused.”
 

During his incarceration, Bess would also realize his desire to help others. The younger kids preferred to come to him for advice before going to their counselors. He was viewed by all as a positive influence on the younger guys.  “A lot of the Wards would go outside when they saw Davone and wanted to do what he was doing. He was a very good leader and would always offer positive advice to other kids.” Woods said. “At times, when the kids doing inappropriate things, I would go to Davone and have him talk to them. He talked to the kids when they were upset and knew how to calm them down. He was very positive, focused and routinely displayed great leadership qualities. It was amazing to see some of the stuff that he would do and how advanced he was. I always told him that he was going to make it and to keep his head up. It was no surprise when he got released when I seen that he going to Hawaii. He was a sharp kid.”

 This advice that he gave to these young kids still remains in the heart and mind of Bess. He continues to impact the lives of young people and people who may be in a bad place. His background and experiences allows for him to relate to many people on many different levels. He advises everyone to stick to their dreams and have faith in God.  “When you are a teenager peer pressure is really big,” Bess explained. “Making that transition from middle to high school is really hard as far as picking and choosing your friends.”  “Stick to your dreams and surround yourself around positive people that want to be productive in society, friends who want to go to college that want to do positive things with their life even if society has told them that they can’t do it.” Bess continues. “I believe in having a vision. When I was incarcerated and spent all that time in a juvenile detention facility away from my family, away from my friends, that gave me an opportunity to better myself not only as an athlete but as a human being. That was God sitting me down and asking me ‘young man what do want to do with yourself, what you want to do with your life?’ He had given me these talents and tools and I was wasting them."

Reaching out to mentors is something that is now very important to Bess. But not only reaching out, but listening to what they have to say. Smart guys are the ones that know how to take advice as well as give it.  “I think what makes me a 'smart guy' is with all the knowledge and game that I have soaked up in all the situations that I have been dealing with, I learned how to take those experiences and knowledge and run with it.” said Bess. “There are a lot of guys that experience a lot of things but don’t learn from their mistakes. I am a guy that not only learned from my mistakes but I learned from other people’s mistakes as well. I feel like a sponge, anytime I get a chance to listen to my elders, OGs, professors, people that have been in marriages over 50 plus years, I pay attention because they have nothing but game, nothing but knowledge that they want to give and I just continue to soak it up. I know that God put me in those situations and so that I could affect the lives of other people, so that is what I am all about now.”

Positively affecting lives drives Bess to continue on this path. Bess is currently putting together an All Star Basketball Jam to be held at Laney College in Oakland, CA on April 9, 2011 starting at 1:00 pm. This is the first Annual D. Bess All Star Basketball Jam. It is being put on to help raise money for the Oakland Athletic School League which is in the process of forfeiting all of its sports and after school programs due to lack of resources. “It’s looking really bad, obviously because of the recession and the economy the school district can’t afford to pay the teachers and the coaches the extra money to stay after hours with these kids.” Bess states. “As I think back to my high school experience,  if this would have happened when I was in high school and I couldn’t play sports  because of the economy, I wouldn’t be in the NFL today." 

Some of the All Stars that will be participating in the game on April 9th are Ronnie Brown, Brandon Marshall, Brian Hartline, Greg Camarillo and Paul Soliai of the Miami Dolphins, Ted Gin of the San Francisco 49ers, Dennis Dixon of the Pittsburgh Steelers, Marshawn Lynch of the Seattle Seahawks, Josh Johnson of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers,Gerris Wilkerson of the New York Giants, Frank Summers of the San Diego Chargers and others, including his manager Christopher Kidawski.

“This is my way of showing my appreciation for what I did have in high school. You never realize how good something was until it is gone. It would be so unfortunate if these kids lose their sports programs, everyone knows how rough it is in the streets of Oakland with the drugs, gangs and violence. Imagine how much the crime rate would go up if there were kids not being active in sports."

Bess plans on making a difference at home and worldwide. Bess is currently scheduled to go to Costa Rica to help kids to get adequate facilities for their schools and sports programs.  Bess surprised Fennville High School in Michigan earlier this month by sending his autographed game jersey as a token of his appreciation to the school for a raffle item to raise money for Wes Leonard, who collapsed and died on the basketball court after hitting the game winning shot due to an enlarged heart.
 

Bess often reflects on his life and about how he got to where he is, and who he has become. He has become a genuine Smart Guy, despite a bumpy road to get there.  “I think if it wasn’t for me going through all that I did, if it wasn’t for me going through those hard times and overcoming those obstacles and failures, I wouldn’t be the man that I am today.”  Bess is looking forward to sharing the 'Smart Guy' philosophy with other young people in order to help them avoid some of the pitfalls that he has encountered in his life and will continue to use his life lessons to make a difference.

A Determined 'Smart Guy',

Davone

For more information about Davone Bess and D.Bess Route Foundation please friend him on facebook at www.facebook.com/dbessroute  or follow him on twitter at officialdb15. 

Health and Wellness



photo by Juan Miranda, Chivas USA

 Zach Thornton, founder of the ‘Smart Guy’ Movement knows that taking good care of your body is part of being a ‘smart guy’.  He also knows that his health is crucial to his ability to perform his job as a professional athlete, and so he takes his health and fitness very seriously.  Zach has been playing professional soccer since being drafted in the MLS’s inaugural draft in 1996. You can find Zach’s name on almost every ‘All-Time’ accomplishments list associated with goalkeepers in the MLS.  Prior to playing professionally, he played soccer and lacrosse at Loyola-Maryland where he was an All-American in lacrosse and earned entrance into the school’s Hall of Fame.

Regular physical activity provides enormous health benefits. Research shows that regular exercise helps reduce heart disease, cancer and type 2 diabetes as well as improve brain chemistry to help reduce depressions.  Consistent exercise also helps maintain a healthy weight which has many benefits of its own. On the other end of the spectrum, health studies that have monitored the health of populations over many years clearly show that inactivity-the lack of exercise, significantly increases the risk of overweight, obesity and chronic diseases.

In addition to the team practices and workouts, Zach rides his bike or goes running two to three times a week and lifts weights.  Zach is quick to recognize his trainer in helping him reach his performance goals.  “Jim Liston with Catz Sports is a great fitness coach. He is incredibly knowledgeable and has really increased my quickness and agility.”

There are many benefits to healthy eating and good nutrition as well. Besides helping to control your body weight, good nutrition gives you extra energy, supports your body while it grows and develops and positively affects your mood. Additionally, there are vitamins and minerals in healthy foods which can boost your immune system and shield you from many common illnesses.  A proper diet is key, but nutritional supplements can help round out a healthy living routine. 

At the end of the 2010 season, Zach began to research nutritional supplements and supports to help him optimize his pre-season training regimen and achieve new personal fitness goals. “I’ve always know that putting the right things in your body was important, but I think it plays an even more crucial role as you get older and are asking your body to do more.”  Zach learned about All Pro Science (APS), an all natural supplement company started by Tony Gonzalez, a 14 year veteran of the NFL, who continues to excel in his sport, earning recognition from his team, peers and the league for being an exception athlete and record breaking tight end.  Zach was impressed with Tony’s accomplishments and longevity and his simple, yet effective plan for optimal health. Zach became an All Pro Science athlete and immediately recognized a difference during his workouts. “I’m using a combination of All Pro Science products. I take three vitamins, the Complete Immune, Complete Daily Vitamin and Complete Omega 3.  All Pro Science’s Recovery, Glutamine and Whey Protein have helped me get stronger by allowing me to recover quickly and continue to push my body to the next level.”

Part of being a ‘Smart Guy’ is making good choices about who you associate with and collaborate with in your life.  “Being an All Pro Science athlete fits right in with my goals for being a good role model.  Being a professional athlete is not just about talent, but a commitment to making good choices for your body so that you can perform on the job.  With the help of APS and my trainer Jim Liston, I’m able to have my body answer the demands I put on it.”

A 'Strong' Smart Guy,

Zach

You can follow Zach's season with Chivas USA at:


 www.cdchivasusa.com

For more information about All Pro Science and their product line go to:


 www.allproscience.com

Clearing the Way--Moran Norris' Story

Some people were born to make an impact on the lives of others. It is not necessarily known to those people how or what their impact will be, they just know that there is something inside of them driving them to help others. Moran Norris is blessed to be one of those people. Norris is the starting fullback for the San Francisco 49ers. In his role as fullback he helped clear the way for running back Frank Gore to amass over 1,000 rushing yards on a yearly basis. But Moran has not settled for just being a pro athlete. In order to fulfill his destiny, Norris has created The Moran Norris Foundation whose goal is to positively impact the lives of the at-risk urban youth.

As a Houston, Texas native, Moran attended Madison High School and then went on to the University of Kansas.  While at Kansas he earned two degrees, one in Mass Communications and the other in Special Major Crime and Delinquency, graduating in 2001. In addition to working hard in college, Norris also started at fullback for the University of Kansas Jayhawks and was drafted in the 4^th round of the NFL draft by the New Orleans Saints in 2001. Norris then went on to play for his hometown Houston Texans from 2002-2005 before signing with the San Francisco 49ers in 2006 where he teamed up with Pro Bowl running back Frank Gore and helped make the way for Gore to rush for nearly 1,700 yards.

Norris continues to put himself in a place where he is able to make the way for others to flourish. Norris is a strong advocate of giving back to his community and being an NFL player has allowed for him to be able to do such. Norris and wife Tamara created The Moran Norris Foundation to provide opportunities for at-risk students to embrace their potential and achieve their goals.  “My wife and I started this foundation back in 2005,” Moran Norris said. “We coordinate football camps for young student athletes every June. We put together dinners in partnership with Board members, buying out the restaurant for a day to host fundraising events. We also have a program called Shopping For Good Character. With this program model, teachers from selected schools nominate approximately 25 students in each school whom have showcased good character faithfully. A total of 150 students receive a $100 shopping spree at Targets in the Houston and San Francisco areas, as a reward for consistent, good character. We are active within our church and communities as well.”

  

“I always wanted to do something like this,” Norris explained. “This is my way of giving back. I always said that if I were to be blessed one day that I would like to head my own foundation helping out the community. We invite the 100+ kids that were winners of the Shopping for Good Character to our yearly football camp on scholarship. I have other guys from my team as well as other NFL teams come down to participate. Player volunteers include Vernon Davis, Frank Gore, Patrick Willis, Takeo Spikes, DaShon Goldson, and the list goes on.”  

  

After the football camp, one of the students from each of the four schools is giving their own Dell laptop computer. The student and their family are invited to the foundation celebration dinner at the end of the week. During this dinner the student is highlighted and celebrated in front of everyone for their strength of character, and they have the opportunity to take pictures and obtain autographs from all of the professional football players and community leaders in attendance.  “It (the dinner) is a very positive and rewarding event to attend.” Norris comments.

Positive is something that Norris has remained throughout life and through his career. Growing up some of his biggest challenges in life were learning how to adjust to the pressure that came from his peers to make some bad choices. Norris has had challenges as an athlete as well. Playing fullback is a giving position, all work and little glory. Yet to be a fullback, one has to be on top of their game, both mentally and physically.  “I remained positive,” Norris explained. “Believing in the lord and having strong support at home from my wife help me to succeed every day. Additionally, my family provided me with a strong foundation as well.”  Norris explained that some of the biggest and best decisions that he had to make actually came really simply for him. He has always thought back to what he learned from his parents--a basic understanding of what is right and what is wrong.  Norris believes that a key element of a 'Smart Guy' is knowing right from wrong. “I try to do the right things in life and throughout my community.” Norris continued. “I try to be the best that I can be as a person, as a man and as a fullback in the NFL. That is what makes me a Smart Guy.”

 Moran wants young people to always understand that you cannot be told NO. People will doubt you, they may not believe in you, but you have to believe in yourself. If you don’t believe in yourself, then whatever you are trying to do will not happen. “You lose the battle at that point if you don’t believe in yourself.” Norris explained. “You have to know what you can do, always believe and have faith in yourself. There will be teachers or coaches that will tell you that you can’t do something, but if you just to have the belief in yourself, you can do it and that is how you can win half the battle, by just believing in yourself.”

Believing in himself is what has landed Moran Norris in the position to where he is today. An all around 'Smart Guy' that continues to open up passage ways for others; and whether that passageway is for All Pro NFL running back like Frank Gore or any of the 150 students that The Moran Norris Foundation provides assistance to on a yearly basis. 

A Trailblazing 'Smart Guy',

Moran

For more information on Moran Norris and The Moran Norris Foundation please go to www.morannorrisfoundation.org.

The Journey: Julian's Story Continues...

We had such an incredible response to Julian's first blog, "Perspective, Balance and Strength: Julian's Story"; and we are not surprised, we were incredibly moved and impressed by both Julian's accomplishments and his character.  Julian and his brother Zarek were both beginning new, yet very different phases of their lives. 'Smart Guy' is excited to update you on Julian's journey and his thoughts on his transition from professional athlete out in front of the crowd, to journalist behind the scenes.  Here are his thoughts and reflections on the last two months...

Last time I checked in with “Smart Guy" I was in the process of packing up and moving to Colorado to begin a new journey.  I’ve been here for a while, and I’ve been working for a month now.  It’s been a whirlwind, for sure, but my first month with the Rockies has been awesome.  I’ve finally begun to get a firm grasp of my role and responsibilities after the initial shock of learning hundreds of names and having a bunch of new information thrown at me.  I am even more confident now that I made the right decision for my professional future, and I’m glad that I had positioned myself to be able to switch to this career off the field.

There have been challenges, of course, and I anticipate that there always will be; there are challenges in everything that we do in life.  For starters, I have to wake up at 5:20 a.m., instead of 9:00.  My commute to Coors Field is 40 minutes each way, instead of the five minutes like it was in Tampa or 15 minutes in LA.  Now I work from 8:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. or so.  The days of working for three hours and laying on the couch the rest of the day are long gone–if you can call playing a sport “work” at all.  None of these new issues are bad, necessarily; they are just major adjustments.

The toughest part of this transition has been finding time to work out and stay fit.  Being fit has been a major part of my life, but I always had a built-in source of exercise in the form of practice and team training.  Now it’s up to me create my own time to work out, so I’ve been waking up at 5:20 a.m. to get a run and lift in before work. 

I haven’t had time to miss soccer yet, but I keep up with all of the MLS and international soccer news.  I’ll always stay informed of what my brother and friends are doing, playing in the US and abroad, and my love for soccer will never change.  I’ll eventually try to find a league to start playing in, but right now I’m fine with just being a spectator.

The excitement of this new challenge has far overshadowed the difficulties, and there are so many things that make me happy to work for the Rockies in my new role.  I still get to be part of a team.  Of course this team is a lot different, a lot less banter and it’s not 30 other dudes, but I work closely with a number of other people and we all rely on each other to make the pieces fit.  When you’ve been on teams your whole life, you become accustomed to depending on other people and having them depend on you to make the team successful.  That dependence on teammates is just as important in the office setting.  My athletic background and team-first mentality has made this piece of office life one of my strong points and, I believe, created a good first impression.

One of my favorite parts of my role as a writer for Rockies Magazine is that I get to work with virtually everyone from the front office.  My responsibilities require that I interact with all departments.  I’m interviewing people from the Promotions Department for articles, collaborating with Corporate Sales on magazine advertisements, talking with Ticketing employees for a variety of reasons and learning about Community’s upcoming events so I can write a piece on it.  And getting to know some of the players is cool too; they’re a good group of guys.  I’m all over the building and I like that a lot.

I’ve always been a leader on my soccer teams, and I’m learning to lead in new ways now because I’m the new guy in a new environment.  I’ve been trying to lead by example, being the first one in the office and one of the last to leave, to demonstrate my work ethic and dedication.  Listening and learning is a key part of leadership, and I’ve been doing a lot of that as I continue to learn the ropes.  Eventually, I’ll be able to step up more when I feel more comfortable, but that will come in time.

We’re nearly finished with the April issue of Rockies Magazine, the first that I’ve been heavily involved in, and I’ve really enjoyed writing it.  Writing is what I love to do and that one of the major attractions to this position for me.  We work with excellent freelance writers who do many of the feature stories for us, but my “boss” and I write most of the magazine and plan the content each month.  I’m also one of the people in the organization who handle social media responsibilities, an exciting and ever-changing part of my job.  Each month is a new, exciting project and I’m already seeing that no two days in my job will be the same.  This is the perfect avenue for me to utilize many of the skills that I bring to the table, and I’m already feeling a lot more fulfilled in this role.

Anyways, my wife and I have been spending the weekends relaxing and house-hunting in Highlands Ranch, Colorado, a Denver suburb where we hope to settle down long-term.  Our dogs are happy.  There are exciting times ahead, for sure, and I look forward to what the future holds, both professionally and personally.

A Thoughtful Smart Guy,
Julian

Stepping Out of the Comfort Zone: Jason Jenkins' Smart Guy Journey

It is incredible how much young people learn and adopt from their parents, guardians and important adults in their lives, how their values become your values, their beliefs become your beliefs, and how your attitude or life view is a direct reflection of theirs. Some people try hard to avoid becoming like their adult role models, citing the desire to have an identity of their own. Others, like Jason Jenkins, have not only accepted the characteristics, values and beliefs that were instilled in him by his parents, but he has embraced and modeled their teachings with open arms. Jenkins was raised in Houston, TX by his parents Mary Clay and C.L. Whittington. Jason is not shy about giving them credit for helping him to get to where he is today, the Director of Media Relations for the Miami Dolphins and a strong husband and father.

“My parents did a great job in raising us,” Jenkins explained. “They shielded us from the negativity and barriers of the outside world and eliminated any type of excuses for us not to be successful.”   Before heading to college Jason had to make one of the biggest decisions of his life.  Most people in Houston, particularly native Houstonians, rarely leave due to the great opportunities and rich tradition that the city holds. Houston is a place with many successful people whom are from there and tend to stay to make their city even better. During Jenkins senior year of high school, Jenkins was presented with the opportunity to go to college outside of Houston. “The big decision was not wheither or not to go to college, but wheither or not to leave home to go to college. Ultimately, I decided that leaving would be about stretching out to pursue new opportunities.” Jenkins said. “I was the only person in my high school group to go to Texas Tech. That was a big step for me to be able to leave the area that I was from and go far away to Texas Tech." That decision to branch out allowed Jenkins a time to see, grow, learn and experience new environments, new cultures and new people. These new experiences led Jenkins to pursue different opportunities. 

“I was able to go to college at Texas Tech in Lubbock,” Jenkins continued “Then after Texas Tech I left to go to work for Lehigh University in Bethlehem, PA. I was then able to come back to Houston to work for Texas Southern. The next stepping stone took me out to California with the San Francisco 49ers and then to Florida to work with the Miami Dolphins. That initial big step, getting out of that comfort zone of the town that I grew up in, allowed me to be able to experience new things, different environments, different cultures, and different weather. All of those things helped me get to where I am right now.”

Jenkins loved sports growing up and was always interested in having a career in the sports/entertainment industry.  He graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Communications/Broadcast Journalism from Texas Tech University in Lubbock, TX.  “It is something coming out of college that I always wanted to do.” said Jenkins “On the collegiate level, I always wanted to be an Athletic Director, but on the professional level where I am now, I knew I wanted to do something in Media Relations. Communications was my background, and I had a knack for being able to successfully deal with players, coaches, staff, and the media. So this position was a perfect fit for what I wanted to do professionally.”

Jenkins constantly displays professionalism and enthusiasm for what he does. Jenkins continues to work with the passion and dedication of an intern trying to get their first break, making sure to stay humble and grounded.  “I think that I have a passion for what I do which was instilled in me by my parents.” Jenkins said. “There is nothing that I do that I don’t put my all into it. When I am finished other people can deem it as a success or a failure, but I know that I did my best and gave it my all. I always look at things, whether they turn out good or bad, as an opportunity to grow. I am not necessarily satisfied with things that other people might perceive as great.  Nor am I humiliated or nervous when people don’t perceive those things as great. I think there is always something to learn in everything that you do. I think the passion that I have for learning and my thirst for education is what makes me a Smart guy.”

Jenkins advises young people to set a far reaching goal. Set the ultimate goal as high as you can, but create checkmarks and benchmarks so that you can notch off the successes that you have reached on the journey to your ultimate goal. “I think a lot of people see an end result of something and they want to get there,” Jenkins said. “But when things get hard they kind of fall off because they don't connect what they accomplish on a daily basis as part of reaching that ultimate goal two, five or ten years from today.  Also, surround yourself with like-minded individuals and good people that can help you along your path, helping you get to where you want to go.”

  

Surrounding yourself with like minded people is something that Jenkins not only preaches but practices as well. While in college, Jenkins reached out to Dr. Alfonso Scandrett Jr., who ultimately got him into the field of athletic administration. Scandrett Jr. was a big mentor of Jenkins at Texas Tech and seeing what he did at the collegiate level is what inspired Jenkins to get involved in the field. Once Jenkins left the collegiate level and entered the professional ranks, Tony Wyllie (Senior Vice President of Public Relations, Washington Redskins) and Kirk Reynolds (Vice President of Public Affairs, Pac-10) became mentors to him. Jenkins learned a lot from them about the field and the career and they helped him develop into the professional he aspired to be.

Mentors have played such a role in the professional development and personal life of Jenkins that now he has become a mentor to young professionals entering this industry, the mentee has become the mentor. Jenkins has added another mentee to his list of people that he continues to help shape their careers, his daughter Liya. Jenkins is now the proud husband to Elizabeth and father to Liya, and you can count on his beliefs, values, attitude and views that he received while he was younger will be instilled into Liya as she continues to grow and find her place in the world!

A Mentoring Smart Guy,
Jason