I Do Cool Shit.

I don't really know how to explain to people what I do for a living.  I plan events.  I'm in marketing.  Sometimes I do PR.  Branding?  Definitely.  The one thing I can say for certain is that I do a lot of cool shit.

I work really hard.  I often work long hours, live on airplanes, and deal with jerks.  There are many days that I have not the slightest clue why I stay in this industry.  

But I've also gotten to plan, experience, and take part in some of the coolest events in the world.  

Let's review:

• Sat court side at too many NBA games to count 
• Been on the field at the University of Alabama looking up at 102,000 fans
• Watched an NFL game on the sidelines with the team
• Led the event planning for the first ever Cheetos themed restaurant (which Mariah Carey attended)
• Been on ESPN (terrible hair day guys, that one I’m not proud of) 
• Took dancing lessons from Casper Smart
• Worked with the Commissioner of the NBA
• Played a prank on PJ Tucker
• Ate a $5,000 dinner at a steakhouse at The Wynn
• Flown private multiple times
• Planned a bowl game tailgate
• Stood beside Tiger Woods at the Waste Management Open
• Assisted the College Playoffs in planning their hospitality for the National Championship
• Attended Super Bowl media day behind the scenes
• Met Elton John by running directly into him in the basement of an arena
• Started tailgating at my alma mater
• Interviewed Randall Park 
• Planned the first ever State of the Suns 
• Published an article in the Sports Business Journal
• Worked alongside Brittney Griner and Diana Taurasi (two of the best to ever play) 
• Haven't paid for a ticket to a sporting event since 2010
• Led the planning for the first ever Wendy's college tailgate tour
• Written talking points for athletes, owners, and Presidents of teams
• Sat in John Elway's private suite at Mile High Stadium
• Engaged in some joke telling and witty banter with Joel McHale
• Executed the auction that helped to raise over $500,000 for my Alma Mater Athletic department  
• Put on a private event in a home that housed the 2007 NBA All star court 
• Traveled to Hawaii 3 times completely paid for by my company
• Exhanged emails with Troy freaking Aikman  
• Calmed down nervous NFL players before they took part in half time just for fun games  
• Executed the most successful WNBA All Star fan fest in league history (with truly the most talented group I’ve ever worked with)
• Had my photo(s) hung in an arena as part of the apparel Shop campaign  
• I have a WNBA championship ring  (with Diamonds, duh) 

...and the list goes on.

The things is - I often get so wrapped up in the work of it all, I rarely stop to take a look around at what I've had the honor of being involved in.  Recently I've made it a goal to stop at each event and take in the magnitude of what I've done (usually in conjunction with one bad ass team).  

As much as I often question this world I work in the older I get, I also don't know what I would ever do if I didn't get to check off my bucket list because of what I do.  

My challenge to you - take a look at your job and if even on the worst days you find a reason to smile, understand that you've found your fit.  And if you can't say that, for the love of everything short in life - get a new job! 

None of the Things

I often speak in absolutes.  I want all of the foods.  I need all of the things.  But recently I've started realizing - I could probably do with less of the things - maybe just have some of the things and focus more on the experiences.

I've always had lots of things.  Clothes, shoes, technologies, accessories, home goods - I'm telling you - all of the things.  And the more I move - the more I discover new things I didn't know I had.  Clothes with the tags still on them that I purchased 3 years ago.  Shoes new in boxes that I bought a year ago.  A fancy running watch I wore probably a handful of times and then exchanged for the latest greatest Fitbit.  You get the point.  I own all the things and I'm basically a hoarder. 

So I started trying something new.  Every time I move I make a conscious effort to get real with myself about the things I own.  If I haven't worn something in 2 years, it goes in the donate pile.  When I moved from Arizona back to California - I donated 8 trash bags - yes those would be full size trash bags - of clothing.  I was also able to sell 2 full bags and make a profit of $300.  But being able to easily give away 8 big bags of my clothes - mind you this was the first time I cleansed so I was truly only getting rid of things I could easily part with - and I was still able to fill 8 bags.  The second time I cleansed - I was able to donate 3 more bags.  Realizing the amount of stuff I owned that was of no importance opened my eyes to how much money I was wasting on things.  Things that could instead be experiences.

I always talk about my bucket list.  And a lot of my bucket list items are expensive.  They're exotic trips, tickets to the biggest events in sports, meals at some hard to get into restaurants.  And I started to think - are the things I own worth giving up the bucket list experiences?  For me - they're not.  I don't need a new outfit more than I need a plane ticket to Maui.  I won't get more happiness from an expensive haircut than I will from going to the National Championship football game.  I'll absolutely enjoy drinking wine in Italy more than that expensive kitchen table I've been eyeing. 

Mind you I've also never had time for experiences before.  A lot of my bucket list items were checked off because of work trips and work experiences.  But now that I've made a commitment to a work life balance - I've got all this time to do things and not a lot of extra cash to make it happen.

So I changed my focus.  I'm a conscious buyer now.  When I'm shopping, when I'm out with friends, basically when I'm doing anything I'm asking myself is this a need or a want?  If I don't spend $50 on this - can I put it towards my next experience?  And while I'm not ready to book my South African Safari, I am closer than I was six months ago.  And if I continue on this path - I'll be able to continue checking off bucket list items.  And for me - those experiences are what make my life feel so full.  It's not the shoes and clothes and fancy kitchen items I'll remember - it's the feelings I'll get from being able to adventure.  It's the relationships I'll build on unforgettable trips.  And it's witnessing sports history, laying down on the field at Alabama - and it's getting uncomfortable and growing doing things I never thought I could.  Keep all the things - I want all the experiences.