PUSH Magazine, Volume 1, Issue 6

VOLUME 01 // ISSUE 06

PUSH Magazine

PensacolaSports.org

IT'S NOT IF YOU WIN OR LOSE, IT'S WHERE YOU PLAY THE GAME Just because you might be able to play anywhere doesn't mean you should.

Bring your next sporting event to Pensacola for the facilities and hospitality. Stay for its historic culture, unique adventures, and award-winning sugar-white beaches.

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Field Notes As 2020 winds down, we are thrilled to celebrate the first year of PUSH Magazine!

Our community continues to grow each year. This growth inspires professionals to contribute to our industry, and their lives, through sports tourism. We stay dedicated to building on this momentum even though the coronavirus made it a challenging year.

Our vision, helping you navigate the industry lifestyle both personally and professionally, has laid our service’s groundwork for the sports tourism community.

Our approach has been threefold: People – Product – Process Honoring the people that make our industry special. Showcasing the products and services that help our industry tick. And working to improve the process for the betterment of our industry when it comes to tax collection, funding, and justification.

During the pandemic, we have worked hard to support our colleagues serving destinations, rights holders, national governing bodies, products and services, conferences, and associations. We are focused on the future and ready to assist and showcase you and your endeavors in 2021.

Thank you for being a valued friend to PUSH Magazine and an integral part of our sports tourism community. Please reach out and join us in 2021, so we can continue to improve, inspire, unite, and be stronger together!

x Matt Dunn

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Contents 8 DMO/Sports Commission Profile 12 Rethinking Employee Benefits 16 Conference Preview

US Sports Congress 20 Rights Holder Profile 24 Keeping Employees Healthy 28 Conference Preview

Sports Express 32 6 Indications You Are

Financially Productive 34 Industry Confidential

Website: www.raconteurs.us/push-magazine Facebook: @pushsportsmagazine Instagram: @push_sports Twitter: @pushsports

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Chad Culver

Visit Knox

Sports Commiss What is your title, and how long have you held the position with Visit Knoxville?

Is your organization focused on the quality of life events, room night creation, or both?

Senior Director- Sports Commission, Four years and nine months

Visit Knoxville is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, private company that works together with the community, business leaders, and local and state government to further develop Knoxville as a premier destination for visitors, meetings/conventions, sporting events, and film production.

I think for us to be successful that we need a little bit of both. We are always driven to book room nights for Knoxville/Knox County, which is our overall goal. When we have a chance to do things that help with our community’s quality of life, it is a win for everyone. A prominent example that comes to mind is planning to host the 2019 Bassmaster Classic; we needed to expand the boat ramp in downtown Knoxville. This extension was completed for the event but will benefit our community for years to come.

What is the structure of your Board of Directors?

What would you say are your “bread and butter” sports?

Visit Knoxville is governed by a board of 9 community leaders who willingly commit their time to nurture our efforts to be an economic driver for the Knoxville/Knox County area. Our board has six county appointments, three city appointments, and two independents.

The cool thing about Knoxville is we can do it all. Downtown’s location on the Tennessee River and two miles from the Urban Wilderness bring outdoor sports into play. The Knoxville Convention Center is very open to any sports that can utilize their facility. We also have the University

What is your current organizational structure?

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xville

sion

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PUSH Magazine there is always something happening in Knoxville. That’s a draw for Knoxville.

Your organization recently won SportsETA’s Sports Commission of the Year award. What sets Knoxville apart from other destinations?

of Tennessee and its world-class facilities less than one mile from downtown.

Are they so because you have state of the art facilities catering to those sports? What annual projects/events do you work on, and how do you enhance them from year to year?

We try to build and get better every year. We worked for a couple of years to build our inventory to host tournaments in our convention center. We can now have tournaments with 15 basketball or 22 volleyball courts on any weekend. Every year we look at what we need to move forward and try to focus on that area.

Can you host large events during the larger collegiate sports seasons?

Absolutely, we can do large events any time of year. We are used to hosting events throughout the year, whether during college football season or college basketball season. This college town atmosphere adds to the visitor’s experience and makes them want to come back. There is nothing like it.

Describe the seasonality of Knoxville tourism and how you use it in your approach to recruit and create new events.

Knoxville is a town that offers four distinct seasons with an overall mild climate and a full calendar of events. This allows sporting events to provide experiences like none other to their teams and attendees. Whether it’s a festival on Market Square, a sporting event, or an opportunity to get out and explore our outdoors,

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I tell people all the time that I am so lucky to wake up every day and sell my city. I fell in love with Knoxville in the mid-1990s, and nothing has changed. The momentum we have in sports is fantastic, and I feel that is because we have everyone swimming in the same direction. We continue to set all-time attendance records for some significant events because people want to visit, and the people of Knoxville/Knox County want to host them and show off the cool place we all call HOME!!!

Fun personal questions: Besides your hobbies, what do you enjoy doing when you are not working?

I love to spend time with family and friends but mostly my wife and three kids; if it can happen at the beach or in the mountains, that makes it even bet-

ter.

What is the most prized possession you have in your office?

Every year during the holidays, my oldest son comes to work with me for a day. He always leaves me a note with the date. I have the last three years on my desk. Those are pretty cool to me.

What is your favorite sporting event annually?

That’s a close one. The opening game in Neyland Stadium is hard to beat, but Sunday at The Master’s is pretty special too.

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Rethinking Employee Benefits Reimagining flexible options is fast becoming the method to retaining the best talent.

Employee benefits have been vital means used in the competitive marketplace for years. Benefits such as 401(k) plans, cell phone bill pay, or above average vacation time have been used as bargaining chips by employers to distinguish themselves to top talent.

Skip ahead to our current situation, where so much about today’s workforce has radically changed. Organizations are nevertheless using employee benefits to entice and maintain employees, but now those benefits look quite different. The coronavirus has triggered years of change in just under a year.

Understanding what current and potential employees want and need is crucial for orga-

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nizations of all sizes to efficiently use employee benefits as a competitive advantage during the pandemic talent war and beyond.

The latest perks and benefits In the past, progressive organizations used benefit options such as above-average vacation time, flexible schedules, or even home offices. In our current environment, flexibility has become the most critical issue that each organization needs to accommodate to stay competitive. The workforce is coping with vastly different conditions and personal obstacles, which involve varying degrees of flexibility. For example, let us review the current school year. Employees with grade school-age children seek flexible schedules or work from home options, as kids are

experience. community. perspective. attending school virtually, while some are in a hybrid model.

Just over half of small business leaders recognized that school reopening preparations would affect their operations and workforces. Also, over half noted they were setting up work from home arrangements for their employees. On the other sign of the coin, only a low percentage of small-sized organizations ask employees to return to the office environment. C-level executives should focus on making flexible working conditions impartial and justifiable for everyone, regardless of their circumstances.

Separate from childcare, most of those allowed to work from home have become used to it.

Many have upheld or even improved their output without having to deal with getting ready and out of the house on time, traffic jams, and other disruptions that occur as part of the typical office environment. Likewise, countless employees favor working from home as they feel safer there, not having to worry about health and safety in an office ecosystem. Some employees wish for a mixed model option, working part-time in the office setting for the social aspects and part-time from home. These new challenges create essential management decisions, looking to retain employees while not affecting production or morale.

Crafting a consistent corporate culture It can become a challenge for management to sustain and cultivate their corporate culture while meeting their employees’ varied needs.

While we have never faced challenges such as these, managers’ goal is to safeguard their corporate culture. This can be done by maintaining their principles, emphasizing their organization’s mission and vision, and shaping their corporate culture’s customs and beliefs for remote employees.

Every organization will have distinct subtleties and specific needs of individual employees. Moving forward, those organizations that figure out the equation of assisting employees with personal responsibilities due to the coronavirus, doing so in a fair way across the board, and that supports company culture will have a significant advantage over those that do not. Listening to employee’s needs and updating clear-cut policies and procedures will be essential in retaining employees.

Post-Pandemic Personnel Executives must confront and face the changing aspects of their operation and make determinations that are in line with their company culture and tackle virus-related situations of their employees. Expectations for many employees have shifted, and when the economy bounces back, they will have options. The battle for talent began awhile as strong organizations have assertively pursued talent from furloughs, layoffs, and financially downtrodden organizations.

Solid benefits, like work from home arrangements, have long been deemed viable perks.

Appealing talent, along with younger generations, are averse to accepting the traditionally designed office environment. Flexibility will be necessary to sustain and vie for top talent in the post coronavirus.

Leaders must ask themselves what the right thing is to do for the organization and fair for the workforce. Additionally, what leads to maintaining production levels and, of course, what aids in retaining employees.

As we are in uncharted waters, these are not easy questions to answer. We have no road map. The guidebook has not yet been written.

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KNOXVILLE. WHERE CHAMPIONS ARE MADE

USA Cycling Pro Road National Championships return to Knoxville June 18 - 21, 2020

Sports.VisitKnoxville.com 15

“There is no time like the present.” It seems odd to hear this, especially in the times we currently live.

But that is our mantra as we forge ahead with this year’s US Sports Congress.

“We’ve never set out to achieve attendance records,” explains Lou Mengsol, President of the US Sports Congress. “Our focus is being a resource for the industry, creating quality content, and providing an atmosphere where business gets done. This year is no exception. Our teams’ focus has centered around maintaining the integrity of the event while complying with Federal and State mandated health and safety regulations.”

The US Sports Congress has always been and continues to be a very intimate event with balanced ratios of Destinations to Rights Holders. That is just one of the ways more business gets done. But this year, the concept takes on new meaning. The M Resort, serving as this year’s host hotel, is a good distance off the strip. It really is a bit of an anomaly for Las Vegas. The property has just shy of 400 guest rooms and isn’t the typical 3,000 room casino property you will find on the strip.

Additionally, our event occupies 100% of the resort’s meeting space, meaning no other groups will be present. Having a mid-week meeting helps too. There will not be many leisure travelers to contend with creating the perfect “bubble” of safety for the Congress.

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Conference Preview

US Sports Congress The Congress is taking extra efforts around event design. While it is easy to put up hand sanitizing dispensers, we must consider additional elements. Gone, for example, are buffets. We focused on a better, safer experience, so we’ll be individually plating meals during the Congress.

The trade show will be different, with wider aisles, including one-way traffic and larger booths. The registration area will feature a different feel with packaged and contained registration kits crafted to minimize the contact with other staff or attendees. The app for the event has been upgraded and will allow attendees to exchange contact information by

“shaking” their phones near each other – without touching – of course—our version of a virtual handshake.

While some aspects of the event design will change, the quality of sessions will not. Sessions are designed so that everyone is encouraged to attend and learn together. This stimulates interesting conversations and ideas that everyone can share. The 2020 speaker line-up is sure to accomplish this. The USSC will kick off with a keynote chat with Lawrence Epstein, COO of the UFC followed by sessions on Leadership with author D.J. Allen, Special Olympics with Terrance Thornton, and a robust group of round table sessions on making your organization thrive in a different environment. Two different sets of round tables will feature conversations with both Rights Holders and Destinations in mind. Russ Yurk will lead these discussions – 129 Sports, Patrick Higgins – Connect Meetings, and the group from The Collective BEST, a consultancy with over 130 years of com- 17

bined experience from industry veterans such as Kevin Smith, Mike Chandler, Kris Smith, and Ravi Rajcoomar.

Education is programmed on each day with both general sessions and round tables. Tuesday’s schedule allows for attendees to experience the host destination. The best illustration of this is their networking outings. This year we are featuring golf, a desert jeep tour, a culinary tour, and a historical tour of the Mob Museum.

Attendees are treated to their choice of outing, but the secret is that this provides a break in their program to refresh and reflect while providing another channel to spend time with their partners.

There are other ways to connect with industry peers and partners, receptions at the Congress’s opening and closing, and a new Meet & Greet hosted by Virginia Beach at the M Resort.

While the activities planned at the US Sports Congress will keep attendees busy, the open night will allow participants to gather on their own, meet with clients, and get back to business.

With input from our local hosts, Advisory Board, and industry professionals, the US Sports Congress is ready. Most importantly, moving into our fourteenth year, we have not sacrificed quality content, great networking, or an environment that stimulates business.

In what may prove to be the only sports conference that will meet live in 2020, we feel like we have our finger on the industry’s pulse.

While concerned about safety, we have a solid plan and are following suggested protocols. It certainly appears like “There is no time like the present.”

Registration remains open as the US Sports Congress is just around the corner.

US Sports Congress December 6 – 9, 2020 Las Vegas, NV Host Hotel: M Resort Registration: $2,849.00

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Amateur Athletic 20

What is your title, and how long have you held the position with AAU? Sr. Sports Manager & 20 Years What sports do you oversee within the organization?

I currently oversee all of the Martial Arts – Chinese Martial Arts, Judo, Karate & Taekwondo, and Baton Twirling.

The coronavirus pandemic has altered the course of action for organizations in the sports tourism industry. What pivots have you made to drive the organization forward during this time of uncertainty?

Our #1 objective was to keep our members engaged and with my sports with really utilized social media platforms. We created photo contests, workout challenges, favorite quotes, and much more to keep are our members interested. The goal was to give them something to look forward to each day on our platforms and keep them moving.

Another event that has garnered tremendous attention is the 2020 AAU TKD Virtual Nationals. AAU hosted the event via Zoom and YouTube. Did you research various meeting platforms to decided upon Zoom, say over Google Meet or Microsoft Teams?

The AAU TKD National Chair, Mr. Bobby Stone, and I first started talking about the idea of a Virtual Nationals in the spring as I had already done two (2) video submission events with Karate. We looked into different platforms but kept going back to Zoom because it had the most options, especially when using the Webinar feature.

Jennifer Miles

Union

(AAU)

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How were you able to coordinate with all 40 host sites, and what went into deciding which would be on the docket?

The Club Host Sites were a driving force; our largest club Asian Sun Martial Arts from Ohio, had over 130+ Athletes register for the Virtual Nationals.

Utilizing Zoom Webinar gave us the ability to send a specific link to athletes in that Ring (Zoom Webinar) for their competition and then on competition day the features allowed us to control moving them in and out of the room (main screen) so they could be showcased on the screen.

Hosting over 4,000 taekwondo matches via Zoom had to be daunting; what preparations or additional tech support did you implement before the event?

It was a daunting task to undertake but knowing how much our athletes were longing to compete.

Once we figured out the platform, we would utilize and discuss all of our ideas with our Executive Committee for AAU Taekwondo.

We started gathering our staffing for ten (10) rings – which would mean we would need a minimum of six (6) people for each ring. Once we reached our staffing goal, we assigned everyone to Rings then hosted multiple training sessions with our Officials, Team Leaders & Virtual Staging Managers from all over the United States.

Considering how well attended the virtual event was, describe your approach to get AAU taekwondo athletes excited for a virtual event rather than what they are used to. We knew we had to get the Instructors & Clubs to be just as excited to do this event as we were, so again we took to Social Media and hosted Zoom Calls with our Volunteers, Clubs & Instructors to get the info out.

To be a host site, the Taekwondo School had to be a current AAU Club and could have as many athletes register as they wanted, but we incentivized them to register a minimum of ten (10) athletes to qualify for a rebate back to their club.

The host club also needed to provide ample space for the athletes from their school to compete. It was an opportunity for most clubs to get athletes back training either in the Dojang or via Zoom to prepare.

Fun personal questions: Besides your hobbies, what do you enjoy doing when you are not working?

I like hanging out with my family – husband, son (11), who is a swimmer & our new puppy. I also love exploring breweries.

What is the most prized possession you have in your office?

Not sure that I have a prized possession in my office.

What is your favorite sporting event annually?

This one is tough because I love watching the World Series – well, if the Yankees are in it, but I also love the Super Bowl as it brings we back to when I was little watching with my dad, and it was the one day I got to eat lots of junk foods plus stay up late.

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Keep Employees Healthy

While Working from Home

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set. Health-related issues have always come from the traditional office setting damaging the body over time. We also know that working in awkward positions, such as at the kitchen counter or typing in bed, for lengthy periods can accelerate complications, leading to soreness, discomfort, or lasting damage.

Employers can trace several conditions back to extensive laptop usage. When we focus on our screens, we force ourselves to look downward; thus, our heads’ weight pulls on the neck and back. There have even been reports of wrist pain from overuse with a mouse.

These ailments can be treated, and a work area that promotes proper posture, combined with behavioral modifications, can solve most cases.

So, how do you communicate this to your team?

Here are a few suggestions:

Home-office design flaws and virus-related stress can cause health problems.

In the beginning, everyone enjoyed working remotely from home. However, after roughly three months, the issues began.

Since the pandemic forced the vast majority of office workers home, physicians and risk management experts have been responsive to the threat of work-related injuries and health problems.

These problems could range from lumbar support to cracked teeth. Still, our colleagues and co-workers settled into new habits, including months of poor posture while on the computer, unhealthy nutrition patterns blended with virus-related stress. Of course, it all started crashing down.

Recent surveys have seen a massive increase in shoulder, neck, and back pain since the beginning of our quarantine efforts. Those who reported back and joint pain also indicated their discomfort was new or had gotten worse since the initial on-

1. Be a role model and provide reminders.

You certainly cannot force your co-workers to switch out furniture, but you can remind them that an unsupportive desk chair can cause back pain. Other supportive reminders include: Positioning the top of their laptop screen, or monitors, at eye level; operate a wireless mouse and keyboard at an arm bend level; use a footrest, or at minimum sit with your feet flat on the floor, and alter positions during the workday. Do not be anxious to frequently check in on employees, ask about their home work stations, and always “practice what you preach.”

2. Make revisions to work from home policies.

Create training sessions, or “Lunch n Learns,” in addition to establishing resources like workspace checklists. Making an effort to schedule one-onone virtual appointments with your employees and occupational therapists to help set up good work areas and positive habits can go a long way to building rapport and a healthy workforce.

3. Adjust your budget.

Financing employee health benefits can indeed be less expensive long term. Since fewer employees can soften health insurance costs, it might be appropriate for you to fund some home-office

PUSH Magazine updates, especially if you consider closing an office space and switching to remote working full-time.

4. Do not overlook anxiety.

Considering the new pressures facing employees (possible caregiving obligations, lack of social interaction, growing anxieties of the coronavirus pandemic, etc.), your team may need a compassionate check-in now and again. Some organizations have seen new problems arise due to the pandemic. For example, employees who live by themselves tend to feel overtaxed and lonely. This can lead to unhealthy activities such as drinking to excess. These individuals have been encouraged to join book clubs and even create virtual social functions.

Be on the lookout should some need skilled mental health care.

5. Create an open Zoom policy.

Co-workers with young kids, even older family members at home, can sometimes struggle with a different set of distractions – lack of sleep or stress-induced teeth grinding. These individuals need more flexible schedules, assistance balancing personal and professional responsibilities, and possibly new remote office equipment.

Work to create an atmosphere that your employees feel comfortable asking for help. This flexibility will ensure they make the necessary adjustments to their home and work responsibilities, scheduling, and remote workspace to be successful and balanced.

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Sports Exp At the turn of the year Roy Edmondson (CEO, The Express Conferences), Jonathan Paris (Executive Director of Sports Tourism, Visit Myrtle Beach, and the Sports Express conference have the opportunity to set the tone for the industry’s 2021 rebound. Our crew sat down with the planning team at Sports Express to discover all the new features the conference will have to offer.

Roy, your Sports Express conference has a solid reputation for team building and a ratio that allows for solid interaction with just about everyone during the week. Have you planned any significant changes for the 2021 conference?

Our attendees have been incredibly happy with the format and we are sticking with the current model. We have some exciting activities and team building this year. Each participant will be able to choose from one of five activities (golf at Pine Hills (where Sports Illustrated was founded), a helicopter ride down the beach, a facial or massage at the Kingston Resort spa, half day at Broadway at the Beach (includes escape room, Ripley’s Aquarium and Wonderworks), or a tour of Brookgreen Gardens.

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Conference Preview

For our team building experience all of our participants will divide into teams for a dodgeball tournament and each team’s final place will determine the order they will be allowed to leave for our NOT So Amazing Race. Teams will have to complete tasks at each location, but each team member can only perform one of the tasks, so we are very anxious to see the strategy of each team.

We have a great list of organizers already committed and we expect to add a few industry giants. There will be thirty organizers at the conference. Our community service project this year will be cleaning a portion of Myrtle Beach. We will divide into teams and the team that is able to collect the most garbage will win a prize.

The conference will take place at the beautiful Kingston Plantation Resort. Home to several lodging properties, our conference location has recently changed to the Embassy Suites Myrtle Beach due to a construction issue at the Hilton Myrtle Beach Resort.

As with any event these days, pandemic protocols have become the main focus, not only because they are so important and because they are required within each destination and

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PUSH Magazine facility, but also to ease the minds of your clientele. What are your plans for ensuring the health and safety of the attendees?

COVID-19 protocols: Registration will be as touchless as possible – all materials will be pre packed by staff with gloves and cleansed We will be giving each attendee a KN95 mask and face shield We will mandate 6ft distance at all appointments We will require a face mask at all functions (except eating but we will be distanced) We will ask everyone to wear face shield at appointments All transportation vehicles will be cleansed after use We will require all participants sign an agreement that they will follow all protocols Jonathan, we remember talking with you about hosting the upcoming Sports Express while attending the 2020 conference. Your passion for doing so was palpable. What has your organization been focused on during your preparation?

As we have done all summer and into the fall, we are determined as a destination to keep our visitors safe. That includes our sports groups and the upcoming Sports Express.

As a destination, we developed a “Visit Responsibly” campaign that ended up being customized to the sports market under our “Play it Safe” campaign. These campaigns really highlighted our messaging to our visitors to follow the CDC guidelines of wearing a face covering, washing your hands and social distancing.

Additionally, the campaign also focused on treating our local businesses with empathy and patience as they are getting up to speed on a new way of doing business, cleaning up after yourself and doing the right things while you are here visiting the beach. We want this messaging and philosophy to transfer over to our visitors for the Sports Express conference.

Working with Roy and his team, we are sure that we will create a safe environment for all to attend this first in-person show of 2021.

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6 Indications You Are Financially Productive These six indications will show your real financial self.

Between life’s highs and lows, sleepless nights, and insecurity, there is no doubt leadership, or even entrepreneurship, is not suited for all. Missions such as rebranding, starting a new direction, or even a new venture, is not for the weak-minded, nor is it for complainers.

As the leader of an organization trying to improve, stress and doubt come into play often. However, you may be more successful than you previously thought. We have all been there, and we have learned to gauge improvement in a different way than most.

If you are in the process of launching a new project, or steering your organization in a new direction, it is likely you are in a better position than you realize. Here the indications why: The journey is fun!

Leading, and/or owning, a successful business is a wonderful feeling, but it does not include everything. Everyone should create goals towards financial security, but it is also crucial to relish in the experience. Everyone learns this lesson the hard way unfortunately. Folks will spend years of their leadership or entrepreneurship telling themselves they cannot afford time away for a simple vacation. Sometimes, too little too late they discover this is untrue. Unplugging and unwinding can create a light-bulb moment for most. We all can experience a life filled with joy while progressing the effort of an organization, and so can you. If you are taking the time to live in, and absorb, life’s special moments, then, you are one step ahead of the game.

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You have prepared for a rainy day.

Studies show the majority of American families have saved less than $1,000 for emergencies. This low amount goes to show how unprepared we are for life’s challenges. Based on this knowledge, a business leader, or C Level executive, that creates an emergency savings fund is in good shape, certainly better suited than most.If you have set up emergency funds personally or professionally, you are in a good shape to overcome any financial problems you might face.

Your net worth is increasing.

While your budget has been approved, cash balance, and accounts receivables and payables all determine what your business is worth, you should also be keen and mindful of your own net worth. This can be simply figured by subtracting your liabilities from your assets. Your net worth is important as a benchmark because over time it measures your wealth though taking your debts into account. Some organizational leaders, or business owners, forget to recognize that equity in a business grows as it market share and customer base increases, so be sure to realize the value of your organization or business and its assets as well.

Your business plan is solid. in today’s competitive marketplace, you must have a business plan, and follow it, to succeed.

However, you also need time, energy, and resources to get your effort off the ground. Personally, when I began new business ventures, I created thorough business plans but still doubted whether or not the industry would embrace them. Thankfully, this doubt faded when enough time passed for my focused business plans to work. If you put faith into your business plan, be sure to give your plan time to run its course.

Your personal life is on the right path.

The pursuit to financial freedom is important, but not if it ruins your relationships. What? You do not believe me? Ask Tiger Woods. How must he have felt to be the pinnacle of success, to then lose his self-respect and family structure. It happens often. It is easy to get caught up and place your focus on career first and not place your attention on personal relationships. Creating commitments such as no less than one date night per week can make a huge difference. Cultivate your relationships as you grow your organization’s success. Otherwise, you may go through life filled with regret.

You maintain optimism.

At all times keep your head up. During the 2008 - 2009 economic crisis, it was incredibly challenging to increase my book of business. Those times were dreadful, but I knew I did not have control of the stock market falling. Luckily, I was able to switch my mindset and focus on the positive things during that time. I had an amazing opportunity to build a business, all the while embracing newfound flexibility – something I had never experienced before during my professional career. If I wanted to exercise at lunchtime, I did it. Grocery shop at 10:00 am? Yes please! Focusing and embracing the positives can work out in your favor.

Thus, always keep your head held high and maintain a sunny disposition.

Believe me – you will need it!

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PUSH Magazine

Check in every issue for the unfiltered thoughts of our guest writers and contributors as they discuss the hottest topics in sports tourism. Join the conversation by tweeting us: @pushsports In this issue our guest writer discusses the subject of unity.

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2020. What a shit show. But that’s nothing new, and as happy as we’ll all be to close the book on this year, there are a few things from 2020 that I hope find their way into our 2021 lives.

We’ve all survived craziness before. Working in events is a fine art of learning to survive crazy and come out shining and smiling on the other side. We’re programmed to adapt. This year wasn’t craziness; this year was humbling. A global, mass felt, shoved down your gullet, humbling.

If, at some point in 2020, you did not have a moment of realization that nothing in life is guaranteed, you, my friend, missed a rather important life lesson.

Let’s admit it; many of us had gotten a bit high on the horse. It’s easy to do. Our industry foundation is the human desire for excellence and the ideal of winning.

Naturally, this finds it’s way into our lives, and we find ourselves striving to dominate over the competition.

2020 however, screeched everyone to a stop, and suddenly we all found ourselves scrambling for something non-existent. Answers. For the first time, no one knew what the hell to do. No one had precedence; no one had the magic playbook; We were all simultaneously screwed.

Humans are funny. When everything is excellent and our cup runneth over, it’s easy to overlook connection and the idea of duty. When brought down to nothing, however, these fundamentals come through in abundance. When faced with a sea of uncertainty, we all called one another. We set up ZOOM calls; we shared ideas, we shared protocols, we shared marketing strategy, we shared all of it. There was unity.

In the past, we keep such assets under lock and key, viewed as the secret sauce that would help us dominate, help us WIN. But this year, it was our responsibility to share. To win, to beat this rival, to survive, everyone needed to succeed.

And that is the actual 2020 lesson for us all. A rising tide lifts all ships. The entire industry needs to be healthy if we want our slice of it to be successful. No one got through 2020 alone, no one got to their position in the industry alone, and no one will have continued success alone.

We are in this together, and if we can keep that in mind as we move forward and find the sunshine once again, there is nothing in this world that can stop us.

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