Over thirty years ago, I was studying at Bowling Green University and dreamed of the day I would be working for a professional baseball team. Little did I know that the many years of focusing on my passion of sports would be the driving force of my livelihood today.
Without proper preparation, all of that dreaming was worthless to me in my attempt to break into baseball. I had absolutely no personal or professional contacts in the entire sports industry and did not have a clue where to find any resources or direction.
After college, I took a very good job with a large company. In one year, I knew the only place for me was in the sports industry, but I had no idea how to build a career path. I experienced many frustrations while building a career in sports over the next ten years. These learning experiences serve as the basic foundation and driving force behind SPORTS CAREERS, an employment resource program I developed in 1988.
Building a career in sports is sometimes one of the most difficult tasks to accomplish. Many times the conditions have to be just perfect for you to get an opportunity. No matter how many calls you make, resumes you send, or resources you develop, your job search comes up empty.
My Sports Career has been dedicated to helping interested and qualified professionals build and enhance a career path in the sports industry. I believe you need 4 essential tools to make this happen:
1. The ability to access information necessary to prepare and position yourself for a career path in sports.
2. The ability to access personal and professional contacts within the sports industry.
3. The ability to access decision makers and employment opportunities within the sports industry.
4. The ability to develop job search techniques and specific skills necessary for your major area of interest.
Desire and preparation will help you find the satisfaction you’re searching for in sports. You just need a fortunate break … Remember, people get very lucky when an opportunity appears and they are properly prepared. As my grandfather always said, “The luckiest and happiest people are those who find out that WHAT THEY ARE DOING and WHAT THEY SHOULD BE DOING is the same thing.”
When you give up your dream … you die. Keep chasing your dream and I’ll see you around the ball park.
About Mark Tudi
Mark Tudi is the Founder of SPORTSEARCH, with its primary business activities completely focused on Human Capital Change Management for leading Organizations in over 75 Sports, Recreation and Live-Event Industry marketplace segments. Founded in 1988, SPORTSEARCH specializes in sourcing the critical layer of Executive Management, customized recruiting assignments, “Professional Door-Opening”, and leadership development. For over 30 years, Mark has established a high-profile track record in sports career development, with over 25,000 personal interviews and 850+ successful retained search assignments. He has represented the career interests and managed opportunities for many of the leading executives, personalities and organizations in Sports. His Client list includes members of the Sporting Goods Manufacturers’ Association (SGMA), the United States Olympic Committee (USOC), over 250 Professional Teams, Leagues and Sports Marketing Organizations, as well as several leading Corporate Sports Empires. In 1988, Mark created SPORTS CAREERS, the Industry’s original and most comprehensive Employment Resource Program, designed to help individuals build and manage a career path in Sports. During the 1990’s, he successfully financed the business through the ownership group of the Phoenix Suns, led by Jerry Colangelo, which was later sold to the Franklin Covey Corporation and established as a job board on CBS Sportsline.com. Since then, Mark re-acquired SPORTS CAREERS and has served over 250,000 members, 5,000 active Employers and over 15,000 filled positions at all levels through multiple strategic assets at WWW.SPORTSEARCHONLINE.COM. In addition, Mark founded the Sports & Entertainment Human Resource Forum (SEHRF) to build professional recognition and a unified Industry community for today’s Human Resource Managers, Hiring Authorities and Employers. Most recently, he resurrected the SPORTS CAREERS Conference, the Sports Industry’s first and largest meeting of its kind, where people managers and the career-oriented connect. Mark started his career in sports at the age of 23 by starting his own sporting goods sales agency and then helped build the annual sales volume to over $100 million for two of the nation’s leading Manufacturer’s Rep firms. A graduate of Bowling Green State University majoring in Journalism and Business Administration, Mark has written over 300 articles and made over 300 radio, television and speaking appearances. He is a Visiting Professor of Practice and Student Mentor for the Arizona State University and Grand Canyon University Sports Business Programs. Mark has been an active Member of the Phoenix Regional Sports Commission for the past 20 years, serving as the Chairman of the Board, Executive Director and currently on the Board of Directors for a 6th term. Most recently, Mark was appointed to the Advisory Board of The Perfect Game Foundation, a Non-Profit Organization dedicated to the funding of scholarships for Candidates focused on a Career in Baseball. He is also on the Board of Directors and a Chartered Founding Member of the International Retained Search Associates (IRSA). Some of Mark’s personal accomplishments include a 35+ year marriage with three children, successful rehabilitation from a fractured neck, coaching a three-time Arizona State champion youth soccer team, and is a founding Board Member and original Executive Director of the National Pain Foundation. Mark was also a highly ranked and decorated amateur wrestler…back in the day.
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Mark,
Very good post !
I am from Brazil and I am always reeding the sport networker. I agree with you, we need to have dreams and when they are related to build a career in sports we have to be persistent.
Bye,
Savio Sousa
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