The passionately hard-working Anderson might have been tempted to argue her case or respond with bitterness or resentment; instead, she chose to listen to someone she valued as a mentor. “In the coming months, he spent a lot of time with me on presentation and management skills,” recalled Anderson. After meetings, they would debrief on topical issues, what she did well in the meeting, and where she could do better next time. The experience set the course for her thriving NFL career.
“I realized that if I put my pride to the side and opened myself to growing, there was a lot I could learn about the cadence of work life,” Anderson reflected. “How to handle a certain situation that can be frustrating and remain calm when the person across the table is being unprofessional. The key was being self-aware.”
True to her mentor’s word, when he left to pursue an opportunity elsewhere, Anderson was ready to seize the moment and begin her move up the NFL management ladder, a move that took her to upper management as the top female executive at the country’s top sports league.
Anderson was a competitive gymnast and cheerleader who grew up on a farm in Western Kentucky. In this podcast, she encourages listeners to treat their career in a series of stages, each one of which calls for re-evaluating what you’re willing to sacrifice at that time in your life.
"Don is one of the best storytellers I’ve ever met. I’ve known him for a long time and every time we talk I walk away wiser and more inspired. He is the best in the business at teaching you a skill – storytelling – that will last you a lifetime.”
“The ability for athletes to get hired is carried on through you because you are putting out the message that lessons learned from sports are important in life. It is embedded in this podcast, what you’re doing is significant.”
We speak the same language. I am inspired by the stories you tell, the people you have met, and the things you’ve done. Those of us that are competitors like to follow others that have been down that journey, so it is always fun talking to you!”
“Many of the leaders I have worked with were excellent athletes, and I think there is a direct correlation. You’re one of the few people that really has pursued this study, Don. Keep up the great work. What you are doing really makes a difference.”
“Don, you have mastered the skill of interviewing and asking great questions. That is a great skill all leaders need in order to understand their team members’ thought processes.”
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