Disclaimer: Usually, I put a lot of planning and work into a post. Today, I realized there was something on my mind that I needed to share. So, this post may end up sloppy, but I promise its 100% full of passion straight from my heart.
I wish I had a dollar for every time I heard or read "If your dreams don't scare you, they're not big enough." I'd have enough money to make at least one of my post-grad loan payments. I saw this phrase a ton throughout college, but it never really resonated with me the way it should have since I was in college to purse my dreams. [In case you haven't caught on by now, my dream has been to pursue a career in the sports industry.] Then again, in college I was never really sure how exactly my dreams were going to come true, I just knew what I wanted. However, in 2015 I have finally realized what the heck this phrase truly means.
During my last two months in college, I was desperately trying to find my way into sports. I was even willing to do unpaid internships while working another job on the side to pay bills. Anything that could get me into sports would do. Then I landed probably the most incredible internship of my life (see the post before this to hear more about that) with the Detroit Tigers. As excited as I was for what was to come, I found myself pretty terrified too. Sure, I had a college degree, but also like next to no experience in sports or sales. Most days I would wake up so scared of what was to come, especially if we were going to be doing something new. The ticket office freaked me out. Taking phone orders? No way. Fulfilling Spring Training season tickets? Someone else please. Those first few months I finally realized working towards your goals can be so scary. By the end of the internship, I was not afraid of some of the things I was scared of in January. Am I still scared of some tasks I did at Tiger Town? Oh yes, but I am more comfortable doing said things.
Fast forward. It's October (say what?) and I'm now working in two positions with the University Athletic Association (UAA) at the University of Florida. Basically, I work in accounting (full time) and the student ticket office (part time) for Gator Athletics. Pretty cool, right? I think so. Here's the thing though: I still get scared. I have way more experience than I did when I graduated last December. These jobs are something totally new to me though. I worked in the ticket office for the Tigers, but never as much as I am at UF. Accounting? I would've never imagined working in an accounting department. So yeah, I still get scared. Scared to make mistakes and scared that I will fail in these positions. I get so scared because I also love the heck out of doing this stuff. Working in athletics has just stolen my heart. I can't imagine going a day where I'm not surrounded by one, or twenty, sports. I don't want there to come a day where I'm not doing it. That's why I finally understand that if your dreams don't scare you, they aren't big enough.
They scare me, but they've also built me. I know I said I was scared with the Tigers and I'm still scared at UF. What I didn't say is that on the other end of that, I'm also so much more confident in myself than that first month at with the Tigers. With my new position in accounting, I have to learn so much and it's mostly stuff I've never done before. Its okay though, because I know I can learn it and do it. I learned and did things that I had never done before at my internship, and I can do it now. I get scared, but I don't let it stop me. That has probably been the most important lesson I have learned in 2015. My dreams are big, and they scare me almost every day. But I love what I do, and this is what I've got to do to reach those dreams. Push myself out of my comfort zone if I have to, and learn how to do the things to make my dreams come true.
I know this might not seem that big, or I probably seem late to the game. But it's been huge for me this past week (and this past year) to finally understand how scary dreams can be. I've had to work hard to keep the dream alive. Shoot, until the full time position in accounting was offered to me, I had made a whopping $33 working in the ticket office. Even though I'm living at home, that is not enough. I held on though, and once again I'll be doing what I want to do.
So seriously, if you know what your dream is keep working at it. Sometimes you won't know what you're doing or how you're going to get there, but if you keep with it you'll get there and it'll be the coolest thing ever. It won't always be easy or fun, but it'll be so stinkin' rewarding that you'll be glad you never stopped.
Until next time,
Brandt
