No, I haven’t won an ESPY (maybe in my mind), but my friends at USA Softball have. I witnessed Landon Donovan’s first game back for the LA Galaxy after he got cut from Team USA. I was all smiles because my team was about to play on “the field” at StubHub Stadium — and David Beckham was next door. I survived the scariest taxi cab ride to take a picture of the Philadelphia Rocky statue.

A recent conversation with professional acquaintances led me to reflect on my journey as a marketing and communications professional. This reflection harkened back to the time when I worked 60-plus* hours a week, traveled the United States with a mini office in a backpack (printer included), and ate peanut butter and jelly sandwiches between doubleheaders because who knew when I’d actually get to eat dinner. Working in sports information defined the communicator I am now. It’s a time in my life that intrigues people from a curiosity perspective, but a profession few understand – and appreciate.

All most people see is a glamorous, jet-setting lifestyle that some only wish they had access to. In reality, it was weeks away from home at a different hotel in every city, late nights updating game notes, dealing with college students (and some adults!) that didn’t always make the best decisions, and learning to keep very big secrets. And for someone that spent a lot of time on an airplane, having flying anxiety didn’t help. All that (and then some) while learning to do things I had only ever done in a classroom setting. The reputation of an entire brand was on my shoulders as a 23-year-old fresh out of college. I was still learning who I was, and it was the most stressful time of my life.

Thinking back on it now, it’s easy for me to want to black out that time in my life. After spending close to 10 years in the sports industry, I put on close to 50 pounds, had yet to grasp how to handle my own mental health, and questioned if I, as a communicator, could ever exist outside of that world. I wouldn’t be prepared for what’s to come for me in the future without it if I hadn’t gone through that.

People don’t believe me when I say that working in sports means you can throw about anything at me, and I won’t flinch. Up until my senior year of college, I had only learned of crisis communications strategies in my Principles of Public Relations class junior year. Without notice, I was in the middle of the biggest news story in track and field that year. And, no, not just college track and field. International. The firestorm that ensued resulted in the biggest failure of my career. Coming out on the other end, I promised myself to never be afraid to ask the necessary questions. And that principle has been the cornerstone of who I am as a communicator.

Strategy has become my passion. I didn’t unlock the talent until after working in intercollegiate athletics, and I discovered it by holding a part-time job as a “professional” organizer. Being tasked with organizing a closet, garage, or even a whole house activated a side of my brain that was previously untapped. It’s a lot like Tetris – trying to figure out how all the pieces fit together. And when you take my ability to see the big picture and combine it with my penchant for digging deeper, you get someone who can connect the dots in ways you never even imagined.

During my second stint in sports, this time at the professional level, I added another layer to make myself marketable. Before, everyone was screaming data, data, data; I took initiative to learn and understand metrics and analytics. It’s a skill that, today, without, I wouldn’t be working in marketing or communications. I’m completely self-taught when it comes to analytics. Data scientists blow my mind, and I’m a big enough geek to spend hours dissecting Excel spreadsheets and Tableau visuals with them. I don’t claim to be an expert, but I know enough to tie the data back to the strategic plan.

I’ve never once thought that I know everything about this profession. It’s a constant state of adaptation and change, and if you’re not learning, you’re not growing. Social media didn’t exist as an external communication channel when I first started (and I’m not even 40 yet). What I have learned is fluidity is the best recipe. This may surprise some people, especially considering that I still have a paper planner, I love structure and order, and I plan my errands route like a UPS driver. These layers have helped me develop my systems to make progress, be nimble, and change on the fly.

If you ever get the chance to hire someone that’s worked in sports, take it. They’re worth it. They’ve probably been through hell and back and are ready to tackle anything – even having to dress up as a Christmas alligator for a night (yes, I’ve done that, too).

* 60 is a highly conservative estimate. It was probably closer to 80 if not 100. I never really kept count, but I was on call 24/7/365.