Think you want to work in sports? Read this first.

We've all gotten the question in a job interview: “Why do you want this position?” In my industry, the kiss of death is to say…"I just really love baseball.”

It has to be more. You have to love the business of baseball.

Let me explain why. But first, some context.

When I started with the Washington Nationals Baseball Club in 2009, it was…tough. We were trying to convince people that it was worth investing their time, money, and hearts in a team coming off back-to-back 100-loss seasons. For those that don’t know baseball, trust me when I say that 100 losses in one season is bad. Really…really bad.

Fast forward five years to 2014. It's the last game of the regular season and Jordan Zimmermann has the first no-hitter going in Washington Nationals history. You’ve heard the first rule of Fight Club, right? Never talk about Fight Club? Well, the first rule of a no-hitter is not to talk about the no-hitter. So I’m pretty sure I was one of the last people to realize it was happening, but I am thrilled to be there to witness it. More so, deep down, I feel like I deserve to be there – I’ve earned it through five years of blood, sweat, tears, and rain delays.??

Except…on Sundays part of my job is to get a group of military children positioned to run the bases after the game. This requires me to leave the ballpark, get them lined up, and sprint back inside to see the end of the game.

So I go to meet the group. You don't know this, but I’m tall – I’m 5’11 – and I can book it. Except....I’ve got 100 tiny legs behind me, trying to keep up. I basically look like the Pied Piper on speed. I’m a sprinting mother duck trying to get her waddling ducklings to pick up the pace.

We made it out the right field gate and lined up. I reached for the door that lets me in behind the bullpen, and as my hand closed over the handle to get back inside, as they say, "the crowd goes wild." I find out later that our centerfielder, Stephen Souza, Jr., has made a spectacular diving catch – we’re talking a Sportscenter Top Play here – to save the no-hitter…and I missed it.

But that's okay. Because working in baseball isn't about me experiencing those moments. It's about creating opportunities for those moments to happen for other people. It’s not about loving baseball. We all love baseball – of course we do – we wouldn’t work here if we didn’t. But you have to love the business of baseball. You have to love bringing baseball to other people.

And if you can be passionate about that, if you can derive your motivation from giving that gift of baseball to others - then there's your answer for the interviewer. But if you can’t - if you can't be okay with missing those big moments - then you don't want to work in baseball.

You want to work in a job that allows you to buy baseball tickets.