Any Given Monday Through Friday

There has been a lot of negative press lately about football, especially the high school variety, and involving officials. It makes me shake my head for a few reasons:

 #1-During my free time I work as a football and lacrosse referee- therefore the game and its rules are close to my heart. #2- I am a big believer in being a team player- on the field and in the office.

Be a Team Player
Not to sound corny, but our future generations especially need to get this. I apply this theory to every area of my life, including my work in recruiting. Whether you’re on the field or in a business meeting, there needs to be mutual respect between the players and coaches/referees, or the recruiters and candidates/HR/hiring authorities, etc. (you get where I am going with this…)

Play a Fair Game
I know that I, as an official, tend to regard much more the players who not only show respect for me and their devoted coaches, but also for the GAME ITSELF. As Al Pacino expressed in ‘Any Given Sunday’: “Football is a game of inches….and so is life”. In sports as well as in business, we have to fight for every inch and rely on our teammates for help and support, in order to win. Give your peers respect, and you too will be respected. Sometimes it’s the simple actions in life that make a difference: doing what you say you’re going to do; following up with people; keeping them updated or giving them pertinent details; letting them know if you need to reschedule an appointment or interview. These are the people I respect the most.

So let’s keep our emotions in check during the ‘game’. Don’t hate the rules, don’t hate the game…Just choose to team up with people who know how to win, but still respect the process!

-Rick