PUSH Magazine Volume 4 Issue 4

Volume 4 // Issue 4

Sports Tourism Business & Lifestyle

Field Notes For some time, PUSH has examined the sports tourism industry from a different lens, and this issue is no different. Our industry has the unique ability to simultaneously reflect the times, give insight into them, and sometimes offer an escape from them.

Speaking of reflection and insight, we recently hired a digital advertising and subscription expert to help guide PUSH into the future. This outside perspective allowed us to examine where we were winning and areas of opportunity. In 2024, we will slowly begin rolling out several changes to our overall offerings.

Our subscribers will see a heightened focus on the philosophy of the PUSH brand.

As you are aware from our tagline, we work to provide experience, community, and perspective to all content we produce. You also may see our existing audience strengthen and grow somewhat to include additional target markets on the industry’s fringe. We remain true, however, to our mission of helping our audience navigate the sports tourism industry lifestyle, both personally and professionally.

Additionally, our advertising opportunities and metrics will expand as we shift our focus onto co-ops and boost activity and impressions. We are also excited to develop a performance-based article archive, as much of our content’s purpose is to reinforce specific messages and outlooks throughout the lifecycle of your career.

Why is there a need and timing for all these upgrades? PUSH is centered around shifting the narrative on our industry, equalizing opportunities, preparing content relative to what keeps you up at night, and integrating what you read today into your organization tomorrow.

So, look at our upcoming changes to the Raconteurs website - you’ll find other changes for the year ahead. Still others may come as surprises. As with most things, we want to acknowledge our history while solving ongoing industry challenges and emphasizing flexibility.

All the best to you and yours in 2024!

x Matt Dunn

TABLE OF CONTENTS Mindfulness: 6 Simple 6 PUSH Approaches to Create Success

8

Industry Spotlight Scott Bruscato Discover Monroe - West Monroe

Business: The Value of 14 PUSH Storytelling

19

22

PUSH Health: The Value of Supplements Industry Spotlight Christy Strong Simmons USA Taekwondo

PUSH Travel: Time to Renew 28 Your Passport Tech: Toning Down Your 32 PUSH Tech

34 Industry Confidential

6

mindfulness Simple Approaches to Create Success in 2024

Have you planned out your New Year’s resolutions yet?

Begin fulfilling your goals and dreams in 2024.

The New Year is here; if 2024 resolutions have been on your mind, you are not alone. Do you have several goals swirling around in your head, both personal and professional? You will succeed more if you begin now or, at a minimum, start planning to set yourself up to accomplish all you seek. Preparing by making small efforts will lead to vast rewards down the road. Below are five approaches to help begin your 2024 resolutions now.

Ask Yourself Why

You can begin working toward your resolutions at any time once you determine your purpose. Asking yourself why and recording the answer is critical. Refer to your why often throughout your journey. Doing so will help build a worthwhile emotion to it. Also, while on your journey, remember to visualize how you will feel at the end of the journey when you reach your realistic goal.

Create Attainable Goals

After determining the reason for setting your goal and why, manage your resolution to make it achievable. By making each resolution you choose realistic, you will set yourself up to stick with the journey to success. Building attainable goals starts with sustainability and resource consideration. You will likely fail if you set out to lose 10 pounds in one week. However, making a plan that includes motion and movement daily is sustainable, can fit into your schedule, and will more likely lead to success.

Take Baby Steps to Build Habits

Trying to change all aspects of your life at once will cause you to struggle to achieve your goal. Starting slow and then building a pace is a safer, more habit-building approach. Be honest with yourself; having the ability to go all out and work toward a goal during the holidays is hard. We all attain our goals by beginning gradually and slowly to create constant habits. It is essential to point out that life will get in the way during the journey. So, provide yourself with empathy and flexibility from time to time when making changes. Doing so will lead to an increase in self-esteem and self-confidence. Always remind yourself that small changes matter.

Tap Into Your Weakness

Identifying and recognizing your weaknesses is critical, especially when considering weight loss and fitness resolutions. Is one of your resolutions to run a half marathon or a marathon? Begin by focusing on strengthening your running muscles to achieve your goal. Not only will you be working toward running endurance, but you should also be in the gym weightlifting several times a week. Suppose you specifically identify that your hamstrings are a weakness. In that case, you likely need to focus on improving those areas and those around them, like your core, lower back, and glutes. Throughout your journey, understand and focus on your weaknesses by prioritizing them and flipping them into strengths.

Seek Out Discounts

Does your goal involve buying new equipment? Many holiday specials and discounts will be extended into the New Year as companies look to eliminate last year’s product lines. Research these discounted prices, take advantage of them and save some money. These purchases may include new technology, fitness equipment, or even kitchen gadgets that will simplify and help to prepare healthier food.

Kitchen appliances and tools such as air fryers, blenders, and instant pots can help prepare more nutritious foods and reduce meal prep timing.

Ask for Help

Hopefully, everyone will set goals and resolutions specific to themselves and their journey in 2024. If you need help getting started, help exists everywhere. Are you looking to stay organized and maintain a cleaner household? Hire a professional organizer. Is your goal to eliminate or reduce drinking alcohol? Search for a local support group or a therapist. Take the time to understand how the habits or tendencies you want to change fit into your lifestyle and work backward on activities that can replace them. There is no shame in asking for help, no matter your mission. Hire a life coach to help you plan to make intentional, sustainable changes. Taking the first step can be the hardest for most, but it’s the essential step in making anything happen.

INDUSTRY SPOTLIGHT

Scott Bruscato Discover Monroe West Monroe What’s your current position?

I am the Executive Vice President of Sales for Discover Monroe-West Monroe. I have been with the organization for 18 and a half years.

My role in the sales department is multi-faceted: identifying accounts, booking, and working with national governing bodies to bring events to Monroe-West Monroe, Louisiana, by showcasing our sports venues and providing leadership to the sales department employees.

What would you say most motivates you to do what you do?

We have excellent facilities, fantastic venue operators, and tremendous hospitality from our citizens. My motivation is to bring event owners to my community so they can experience the same love for Monroe-West Monroe that I feel for it.

My goal is to strengthen my relationships with my local venue operators so I can best serve my

event owners or operators when they bring their events to our community. By working closely with local venues, I can best understand their facility, letting me know what event best fits their venue.

It ultimately allows me to maximize their space and increase the number of events we can host.

What led you to this job?

My previous job as the recreational director for the University of Louisiana Monroe allowed me to learn event planning and management. This experience created a natural progression to Discover Monroe-West Monroe. The CEO, Alana Cooper, and I worked together on an AAU girls’ National Championship in 2004. She called me about the opportunity when an opening became available for the sales department.

Where did you grow up? What was it like to grow up there?

I grew up in Monroe, LA, with a large family of 6 brothers and sisters (two brothers and four sisters) with parents who were very supportive of our activities. Growing up in Monroe was terrific. I had great friends and many opportunities to play sports (football, basketball, and baseball) as a youth from elementary school through high school. I still have wonderful friendships developed through participating in those sports opportunities.

Did you go to college? Where did you go, and what was that like?

I attended the University of Louisiana Monroe, earning a degree and later a master’s in education. ULM provided an excellent environment for me to flourish, make life-long friends in the PIKE fraternity, learn valuable skills as a student worker, and later work as a graduate assistant with the Recreation Services department.

Did you have any key mentors or people who deeply influenced who you are, what you believe in, and what you’re committed to in your work and life?

1. Camile Currier was my first professional boss who gave me a solid foundation to build a career. Camile left an indelible mark on me as a leader by showing up first and leaving last, leading by example, and providing a consistent leadership style.

2. Joe Bruscato, my dad, who passed away a few

years ago. My dad showed me what it means to be someone people can count on. He was at work every day regardless of how he felt and did his job to the best of his ability. He loved my mom and his family fiercely, and I hope people think of me similarly.

3. Alana Cooper, my current CEO, epitomizes a true leader. She provides a quiet strength that I hope to emulate in my role with Discover Monroe-West Monroe. She provides her staff with the support they need to excel in their jobs, and she can lead from the front of the pack or as a supportive member of the team.

What projects are you working on now?

Our community is set to open a new 100,000-squarefoot indoor facility called West Monroe Sports and Events. This path is new since we lacked indoor basketball and volleyball space.

Although we have terrific diamond fields in our community, West Monroe Sports and Events has created a unique opportunity for us to form new partnerships and relationships with NGBs and operators for basketball and volleyball.

Specific projects we are working on include the Louisiana Baseball Coaches Association All-State Underclass showcase. The uniqueness is that we will serve as the lead liaison between the LBCA and University of Louisiana Monroe facilities.

We are bringing several university departments together, such as resident life, meeting venues, and the athletic department. LBCA volunteer director Tim O’Neal is relying on our staff to pull together different university personnel, with timing being a crucial part of the equation. We must check in 100 players and coaches to the resident hall, pass out uniforms, distribute meal plans, and ultimately play the baseball games.

Scott, Discover Monroe-West Monroe has built an impressive book of business and crafted impressive facilities that offer variety to event rights holders. As the Executive Vice President of Sales, how do you and your team handle the workload and continue to create new events?

Discover Monroe-West Monroe is a team with one common goal: “to go above and beyond.” We accomplished great things because we are not concerned about who receives the recognition. By sharing the

credit, our DMO continues to do amazing things.

What gets you out of bed every day to continue your drive? What motivates your work ethic?

When events come together, it is satisfying to hear that our community is one of the best locations hosting events. This drives me to try to be great at my job, but I am also grateful for the opportunity to serve others.

What would you say are your best skills?

My best skill is my ability to relate to others and bring people together for a collaborative effort.

My demeanor provides a confidence that people can trust me and believe I can deliver on my promises.

business The Value of Storytelling Storytelling is an engaging talent, passed down for centuries, encompassing all cultures and languages.

Organizational leadership often emphasizes the need to tell the story of their products and services to their peers, co-workers, and employees. They may, from time to time, request that they need to improve upon how their story is told. Many tactics exist to leverage and improve upon storytelling, but taking a deep dive into why storytelling is an effective method of communication can help those who want to develop this skill set understand it’s actual value.

We’ve all experienced lackluster storytelling. You’ve been there at a breakout session. The speaker begins by pulling up and clicking through slides, talking bullet after bullet. Unless you ferociously wrote down every word or took pictures on your phone to review later, did it sink in? Did you retain the subject matter? Can you explain the content to others after sitting through the session?

Our brains are built to connect to stories for several reasons.

Man creating fire was a significant breakthrough for many reasons, such as providing heat to safeguard themselves from freezing temperatures, deterring predators, and, of course, the ability to cook food.

Another vital gain for human development was controlled fire, which allowed indigenous people to continue socializing after hunting all day into the night. Once together socially, they began sharing, teaching, and even encouraging one another to explore beyond their territory, and instrumentally, they started telling one another stories.

Over time, how we communicate has undoubtedly changed, though our brains are still wired the same.

Along with our ancestors, we seek and find happiness enjoying one another around a fire, whether camping, dining at a restaurant, or enjoying an outdoor space at a beach or mountain resort. We all can become infatuated with a good story and appreciate a talented storyteller.

The science of storytelling has kept writers and publishers busy for decades, filling shelves with an impressive number of books on the subject. These books describe research, some involving magnetic resonance imaging measuring brain activity while engaged in storytelling and listening. There is significant research that connects speakers and listeners when sharing stories, thus proving that storytelling factually bonds us together in ways no presentation slide is capable of.

A chemical reaction happens in our brains when we tell stories, especially emotional ones. Emotional stories initiate the release of a neurochemical called oxytocin. This release builds empathy, trust, and compassion.

Keeping an individual’s attention must, to a certain extent, include the ability to entertain, especially if you have planned to give a lengthy presentation.

So, we must use every strategy known to maintain an audience’s attention to keep them interested.

Since our brains are wired for a chemical reaction when telling and listening to a story, engaging with an audience in this way is the most effective strategy.

Before even thinking about creating presentation slides, ask yourself… “How do I tell this story?”

Using imagery on slides that complement a story is fine, but remember that nobody walks out of a breakout session talking about bullet points. Instead, make sure they walk out discussing aspects of your story with which they have a shared experience. Remember, storytelling is who we are.

health

When your immune health is compromised, can supplements help?

With as much travel as we all endure throughout the year in the sports tourism industry, we risk depleting our immune health, especially with so much human and surface contact. Let’s face it; we’ve all been duped into thinking and buying a high-priced supplement we believed would keep us healthy on the road. You may have walked up and down the health aisles at a convenience store even while attending a conference.

Nevertheless, there is a significant education gap regarding supplements, including ingredients and use. Before supplements are stocked on shelves, the Food and Drug Administration does not regulate them. So, technically, companies can load up capsules with really anything and sell them. Crazy, right? Of course, not all supplements are risky.

Many companies have checks and balances to guarantee their products are safe with third-party

testing and detailed labeling.

Still, supplements should never replace a well-balanced diet. They are, as their name suggests, a supplement to your healthy diet. Or to be used when you cannot get enough from your diet. Maintaining a well-balanced diet gives you the essential vitamins and minerals to support a robust immune system.

Why it’s necessary to maintain a robust immune system.

Your immune system is armed to identify and combat potential harmful intruders. If your immune system is healthy, fighting bacteria, viruses, or any other invader trying to make us ill will be easier.

Conversely, if your immune system becomes compromised, it will be less effective in offsetting these intruders. The immune system plays a role in many areas, far beyond protecting us from colds, flu, and viruses.

Healthy immune systems improve our recovery time

faster from illness and reduce inflammation. Our immune systems also play a role in preventing diseases and prolonging life.

Regular exercise, sleeping well, eating healthy, and working to eliminate stress are core ways to support your immune health.

Rather than relying on supplements when you begin feeling ill, focus on stocking up on foods packed with nutrients. Foods high in vitamins C and D, zinc, and antioxidants perform and play defense to help your body fight off illness. Oranges, kiwi, strawberries, grapefruit, broccoli, and bell peppers are loaded with Vitamin C. Vitamin D can be found in yogurt, milk, salmon, and egg yolks. And remember to concentrate on sources of zinc such as yogurt, cashews, lentils, and chickpeas.

Adding more fruits and vegetables to your diet is always a good idea, as they are loaded with immune-supporting nutrients. These excellent sources of vitamins and minerals can be the focus of an entree, not just side dishes. Healthy smoothies are a perfect way to load up on fruits and vegetables. Due to their natural sweet-

ness and being full of immune-supporting nutrients, consider fruit as an alternative for dessert.

The biggest key is adding fruits, vegetables, and supplements to your diet before you feel miserable. Including these foods in your daily diet will help you get and stay stronger throughout the year.

It can be tempting to load up on supplements that claim to support immune health, especially during the winter and heavy travel months for our industry. However, we must start with nutrient-rich foods in our diets and dodge the tendency to rely on just supplements. You’ll be surprised how often heavily advertised supplements land at the bottom of the list of effective ingredients.

When using supplements, take the time to read labels and research before using them, choose a reliable brand, monitor your blood work, and check with your doctor. You’ll be surprised how often heavily advertised supplements land at the bottom of the list of effective ingredients. A little effort and planning can go a long way in keeping you healthy this season.

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Venues

INDUSTRY SPOTLIGHT

Christy Strong Simmons USA Taekwondo What’s your current position?

I’m the Managing Director of Events and Member Programs at USA Taekwondo.

How long have you been in this position?

I’ve been in this position since January 2023. Before that, I managed Events for USAT. Please give us a brief overview of what you do in your work.

I oversee Events, both domestic and international events held in the U.S. In addition, I manage the Member Services Department and recently took on fundraising and donations.

What would you say most motivates you to do what you do?

I genuinely enjoy working at a National Governing Body supporting the athletes, coaches, officials, parents, and our staff.

What are you most excited about or passionate about?

I’m passionate about starting/implementing new events, programs, and projects that benefit our members.

What are the goals you most want to accomplish in your work?

Taekwondo was hit hard by COVID, so the last few years have focused on bringing members in or back to the sport. I would like to see our membership grow to 20,000+ by 2026. We have also been working on automating the event process for attendees since 2022 (check in, ticket sales, weigh in, live results, points management, badge in access etc.) and we hope to have this accomplished by 2025.

What goals do you hold for yourself personally?

I enjoy professional development and join Boards & Advisory Groups to network and learn from other professions in and outside the sports industry.

What led you to this job?

I started my event management career in 1998, working at Taekwondo, and then moved on to USA Fencing in 2002. In December 2021, I returned to USA Taekwondo to manage their events and contracting. Best. Move. Ever!

What were you doing before you came here?

I spent 17 years at USA Fencing in various positions, including events, member services, and operations.

What attracted you to work for USA Taekwondo?

The leadership at USA Taekwondo attracted me to the Governing Body. They are open to new ideas and processes, changing the status quo, and serving the membership, and they appreciate the experience and expertise that I brought to the table.

Where did you grow up?

I lived in Nebraska during my youth, but I also lived in Japan and Michigan.

What was it like to grow up there?

Growing up in Nebraska was amazing. There were wide open spaces to explore as a kid.

Did you go to college? Where did you go, and what was that like?

Yes. Wayne State University in Detroit, MI. I lived in downtown Detroit, worked around the corner from my apartment building, and walked six blocks to the University. It was an urban/commuter university that was very diverse and interesting.

Did you have any key mentors or people who profoundly influenced who you are, what you believe in, and what you’re committed to in your work and life? Tell us about them.

My dad was a massive influence on me and a key mentor. He was in personnel management and taught me about mentoring, emotional intelligence, and listening to others rather than focusing on what I wanted to say. Michael Massik, NSCA, and Jay Warwick, USA Taekwondo, both allowed me to move my career forward even when I wasn’t sure I was ready.

What projects are you working on now?

Fundraising has not been a top priority in the last few

years for USA Taekwondo. A group of our staff determined that this should be a priority in 2024.

We began by researching how to start a giving campaign and then moved on to the platforms needed to make it happen. The biggest challenge was not having the experience up front.

The group worked hard to understand how this should be implemented and determine “why” members should give to our organization. We have a long way to go but the Team really pulled all the pieces together to get this first fundraising effort off the ground. We are running our first Giving Tuesday next week and have additional plans around the 2024 Games next year.

Christy, USA Taekwondo is producing an impressive number of events on an annual basis. How do you and your team handle the workflow day to day?

We have a small events team at USA Taekwondo so every minute counts when planning, inputting data, working with members, and negotiating

contracts. We use an online platform to keep track of all the logistics, who is assigned, and when it is due, and we constantly follow up with each other so everything runs smoothly.

What gets you out of bed every day to continue your drive? What motivates your work ethic?

Managing multiple impactful projects and timelines and caring for our members motivates me.

What would you say are your best skills? What do you bring to the table that helps you rise above the rest? Where and how did you learn those skills?

My best skills are organization, patience, empathy, listening, humor, and management/mentoring of staff. I had to learn all those skills, especially listening!

What’s next for you in your work?

My next professional step will be to become the COO.

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travel

Time to Renew Your Passport The U.S. State Department announced that passport processing wait times are back to pre-pandemic norms.

Destinations soliciting international events often must be nimble regarding overseas travel for presentations, meetings, and conferences. Thankfully, passport processing times have returned to pre-coronavirus levels.

Passports are being shipped out within a six- to eightweek turnaround time for regular service and a two- to three-week turnaround time for expedited service.

pop-up or planned, to avoid any issues or delays.

The process is still the same; those interested in international travel can apply for a passport in person or by mail and check the processing status by enrolling in email updates. The cost, too, is still the same at $130 to renew or apply; expedited service adds $60.

For quite some time, we have seen passport requests and renewals taking abnormally long to fulfill, with wait times as long as up to eighteen weeks during the pandemic. However, with additional resources and dedicated employees at a fully committed State Department, processing times have eased off, reducing to eight to eleven weeks in October and seven to ten weeks in November.

In 2022, the State Department began a new program to allow online passport renewals, though the program has been paused.

Just as we saw hotel rates climb, so has the interest in traveling following the pandemic. Therefore, longer than normal processing times also sprung up as the State Department saw an extraordinary demand for passports this year, issuing the highest number of annual passport requests in history.

Even though processing times have diminished, we should still be motivated to apply for a passport well before any business or personal international travel,

At City and County administrative offices, recreation centers, libraries, and other public spaces, the State Department has introduced passport fairs. These fairs specifically target new passport applicants and have been, and are being, hosted in both December and January across the country.

So, whether seeking international events or not, now is a perfect time to renew or apply for a passport without a substantial lag time.

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Toning Down Your Tech 4 suggestions to reduce phone use for improved well-being.

We all love how easy it is to connect with a few taps on a phone. However, if you need a bit of downtime each day, the ease and simplicity of using a phone can also make relaxing more of a challenge. All you need is to make a few slight adjustments, and you will be on your way to improving your well-being and mindset.

Below are four worthwhile suggestions to help reduce your phone usage: Disable your notifications.

How often have you been enjoying time with loved ones or close to completing a task you have been focused on for an extended period, only to hear a notification on your phone that takes you away from the fun or an accomplishment? Quite often, yes? Do yourself a favor and turn off all the notifications on your phone, tablet, or even your computer, for that matter. Meeting reminders and alarms should remain as they can be important when needing a nudge to take medication or to be on time for an appointment.

Limit your Home screen apps.

To have better habits, you must eliminate bad habits or, at a minimum, make them harder to perform. Hide your social media and game apps in a folder, or remove them from the first screen on your phone. Better yet, uninstall them. Yes, yes, we know, easier said than done—work to have only productive apps on your first screen. If your goal is to read more, then have only reading apps on your first screen.

Conceal video call self-view.

Seeing your face on a video call can distract your attention from who you are communicating with. You will experience a more significant percentage of your mental power by hiding your self-view on video calls from your phone or laptop. Doing so will allow you to focus on your meetings and their intended purpose fully.

Plus, once completed, you will end video meetings with more energy by being less mentally drained.

Sleep without your phone.

One of the first things we all do in the morning and one of the last things we do at night is check our phone. When waking up in the middle of the night, we often check it again. Trust us, you do not need your phone in bed. If you are guilty of checking your phone this often, especially in the middle of the night, you need to create new boundaries. Using your phone during the day is fine, but if you are truly looking to unplug and get some rest, you must detach from your phone and place it away from your reach.

Sometimes in life, we must learn to decline offers and say no to opportunities more often.

Improving your mental awareness includes setting boundaries. Saying no will allow you quality time to eliminate stress, relax, and focus on the things and people most important in your life.

INDUSTRY CONFIDENTIAL Check in every issue for the unfiltered thoughts of our guest writers and contributors as they discuss the hottest topics in sports tourism.

In this issue, our guest writer discusses the subject of respecting time.

“Hey, I know you are on PTO, but …” Raise your hand if you got that email at least once over the holiday break. Raise your hand if you’ve ever gotten it halfway through a family day at the beach.

Somewhere along the way, we as a society have completely lost respect for the idea of someone being inaccessible for a set period of time. Somewhere along the way, we all became too important for the world to survive without us (you catch the humor there?).

This is not a rant where I hold myself unaccountable for adding to this mess. This article was actually inspired by my typing the words above, not receiving them. This is not a statement about how we need to do a better job of not reaching out to our colleagues on vacation (Ok, maybe it is a bit). Instead, it’s a memo about how we’ve gotten away from planning that people may be out of pocket and unreachable for a few days. The pace of business now operates assuming that anyone needed to get something done can drop what they are doing and attend to something else. Even scarier is that this mindset is only getting stronger while many are operating with smaller teams and/or being asked to find staff efficiencies.

This is most evident when staff is called while on vacation to attend to something. However, it creeps into our everyday work with same-day communication expectations and task requests.

The lack of respect for one another’s time is not something that will be fixed quickly; however, as we head into a new year, it could be a consideration you take with you into this next chapter.

If you are starting out in your career, be that employee who preps your colleagues when you’re out with what they may need. Be a part of building healthy systems that allow the team access to essential documents, workflows, etc. Build value in your role, but also help drive a team culture where multiple people can cover vital actions and team members consult with one another on timelines to ensure all involved parties are available.

If you’re in a leadership role, lead by example. Take time off and ensure the team has what they need to accomplish things and make non-critical decisions. Work with team/department managers on organizational structures that can cover gaps and needs when team members are away. Be diligent with your company’s rules around time off. Build a culture from the top down where timeline decisions include consultation with team leaders of involved departments on current team workloads or gaps.

The world is fast, and it’s only getting faster, and while we must keep pace, taking the extra time to build projects and timelines that consider staff schedules and workload will pay off and should be a consideration in 2024.

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