Shouldn't your work reflect who you are?

I’m a total dreamer. I’m very much an “imagine if…” or “why don’t we…?” kind of person. And it’s on the naysayers to prove that this is the wrong way to approach life – and business.

But I’ll admit I haven’t always embraced this side of me. As I settled into a typical corporate role and structure, I allowed myself to prioritize what everyone else wanted – at my own expense. I knew all along I was on shaky ground but who’s to question what others point to as the measures of success?

That’s actually exactly what I started to do! My goal has never been to diminish what fulfills others. But my life doesn’t look or feel familiar to everyone. No kids yet in my early 40s. An extended break from work. Home ownership, an increasingly distant dream. And, what? My version of life has to, therefore, be less valuable? Nuh uh; no thank you. The idea of success, in many ways, is just that: an idea. It’s absurd that a single blueprint would satisfy 8 billion individuals. It’s why listening to others and their dreams has become an obsession for me. And it’s helped me draw some very obvious conclusions.

For example, why are we still accepting…

• …ideas with little to no substance? No actions tied to them? Nothing additive to us?
• …outdated “standards” that are impossible for a plethora of reasons?
• …the constant recycling of overused stories and tactics and stifling of originality?

For a society that’s so vibrant and diverse and dynamic – and rich, we’re so often settling for whatever’s easiest rather than pursuing new levels of consciousness and creativity. I think we’ve been missing out. Obviously, there are those who have managed to champion this way of being. Thank goodness for them. I’m trying to be more like this every day. They’re my new role models.

I’ve had the benefit of a lot of time to really observe, connect, absorb, process and question. The good news: I can never go back to the way it was. The bad news: I can never go back to the way it was. Leaving a steady financial situation and taking on a new risk that’s entirely my own is primarily influenced by one main thing. PASSION. When you believe so emphatically that you’ve found your calling, a greater purpose, you’re ready to dedicate yourself to it. It becomes so precious to you; you want to nurture it and watch it grow into what you know, with complete certainty, it could be. You’re committed to it.

So…now…what if your purpose relies on facilitating change in the broader sense? Lofty, I know. But any collective growth is only possible with individual action.

This is why my mission, as I’ve defined it, is to connect with as many people, organizations, ideas and projects as I can. This is why I’ve opted to double-down on my breadth of experience and love of sport. This is why I’m putting myself in the kind of leadership role that will allow me to not only be selective about the work I take on but to lead by example and prove that you can be successful by being your most authentic self.

I know I’m an optimist but I think I’m a realist too. Eventually, we’ll have to make changes for the greater good which is not the same as maintaining the status quo. Maybe you could say I’m impatient but maybe I just actually want to be a part of this better world we hypothesize. By taking leaps forward together, we can arrive at the goal faster. Wouldn’t that be nice?

So now you understand my mindset. You can hopefully see many similarities with your own. I’m counting on it. And that’s why I’m offering myself as your partner. A partner in whatever uncertain steps are ahead of you. A partner who’s ready to take on any challenge. A partner who can help you redefine and find your success.

My vision is to encourage an environment where we all get to do the kind of work we love, that fuels us and reflects the reality we want to build. But we have to put in the effort and create those opportunities. And to do that, we’re gonna have to get comfortable being a little more uncomfortable. I believe the right kind of actions can set off a ripple far beyond our reach. This should be our motivation. The more ripples we can generate, the more impact we can have.

Hopefully I’ve left you thinking about how you can further push the door open towards the future you want to experience. If you’re involved in brand or sports marketing, partnerships or community impact and/or are carving out a more intentional leadership role for yourself, here are just a few opportunities I’d love for us to tackle together.

• Would we approach partnership investments and activations differently if we measured the cultural value of them? By staking a place in sports, we’re entering people’s lives and livelihoods – we should always be making any interaction worth their while. And if we focused on this more, we could cut so much waste and build stronger audience connections. Sports partnerships of the future are all about value that can be felt and measured, not just stated.
• Finally, women’s sport is riding the rocket it’s always deserved. Sadly, some still don’t get it but it’s their loss; so, who cares? We have the coverage, the visibility, the stars, the stories, the fandom. But the greatest value is in solidifying and amplifying its identity. From merch to content to experiences, being a women’s sports’ fan will be one of the most exciting badges you’ll ever have. We have a foundation to build from and so many collaborators ready to reach the next level.
• Canada, Mexico and USA are co-hosting the 2026 FIFA World Cup. You know what all three countries have in common? Indigenous populations. Wouldn’t it be a major win for FIFA, the local organizers and communities across the continent if the tournament was a catalyst for economic growth through sport for the Indigenous Peoples of North America? After all, sport will be better off with their voices and leadership.

I’ll stop there for now but I’ll admit sometimes I feel overwhelmed by all the potential. There is so much room for us to influence the growth of sport to yes, drive revenue for the shareholders, but, more importantly, to spread the wealth and opportunity to all stakeholders. This is the dream behind Original Sport Soulutions. I hope you’ll join me in it.

#originalsportsoulutions #besoulutionary #entrepreneur #purpose #leadership #intentional #sportspartnerships #womeninsports