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This story is part of our December 2021 CoSIDA 360 package, to view more stories,
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The SID Life
Compiled by Barb Kowal – CoSIDA Director of External Affairs & Professional Development
What is the best thing that happened to you in 2021? Plus, sporting event bucket list items, first jobs, productivity tips, favorite quotes, "this or that" and more.
"The SID Life" is a series surveying CoSIDA members for their thoughts on topics and issues in the athletic communications industry, plus personal insights into not-so-serious issues, too.
Featuring:
What's the one live sporting event still on your bucket list?
Bjornstal: NWSL Championship or a Women's World Cup Final
Brooks: The NBA Finals or a Game 7 during the NBA Finals — basketball is by far my favorite sport
Hartigan: My bucket list is long, and I've been fortunate to cross a lot of events off over the years, but right now it would be attending the White House with a national championship team.
Verlengiere: Wrestling at the Olympics
My first-ever job was...
Bjornstal: Club volleyball coach
Brooks: Grocery bagger for Publix at age 14
Hartigan: Working on the grounds at our local little league park, cutting grass while working with a handheld sickle. Surprisingly, no one wanted to work in my vicinity.
Verlengiere: At 14, I worked in the shipping/receiving department of my dad's go-kart business.
Best productivity tip or advice you can share with your fellow SIDs …
Bjornstal: For SIDs working in video, label your clips with player names and a brief description. It speeds up the post production process... a LOT.
Brooks: My best tip would be to keep an even keel emotional level no matter what is going on in the field or in the office.
Hartigan: Whenever possible, work ahead. Knock out the flip card for the next couple games. Get everything in your preview or game notes done that you can in advance. It's a challenge to find the time, but when the opportunity presents itself that extra time created always comes in handy.
Verlengiere: Ask for help when you need it. You can't be everything to everyone all the time.
What quote or saying resonates with you more than any other?
Bjornstal: "Adventure is worthwhile in itself" – Amelia Earhart
Brooks: "It is what it is," might be simple and/or cliché but that is a saying I have to remind myself when things out of my control affect the job.
Hartigan: "Be a goldfish." With the many and varied responsibilities of the job and the stresses created, it's more important than ever to have a short memory.
Verlengiere: This was posted on a former boss's office door — "Poor planning on your part is not an emergency on mine."
If you could only have four apps on your smartphone, which would you pick?
Bjornstal: Instagram, Pokemon Go, YouTube and Camera
Brooks: Calendar (to keep organized); my music app (music helps my productivity tremendously and keeps me positive); Google Drive; Chick-Fil-a (love their reward system comes for free and delicious snacks)
Hartigan: Plex, ESPN, Outlook, Camera. Plex allows me to bring my movie and tv collection with me on the road. ESPN and Outlook for obvious reasons. The camera is my most used app with two young kids.
Verlengiere: Maps, Starbucks, Apple Music and FaceTime
What is the best thing that happened to you in 2021?
Bjornstal: Watching Carli Lloyd's final game for the US Women's National Team at Allianz Field in St. Paul, Minnesota
Brooks: Sharpening my skills in statistics, there were a few sports that I was still trying to get better with statistics. This year I feel like I added to those skills on top of other skills like photoshop, photography, and videography.
Hartigan: Some summer vacation travel with my family and friends that broke us out of a COVID bubble and refocused me in anticipation of getting back to competition this fall. Or being introduced to Ted Lasso ... Probably Ted Lasso.
Verlengiere: Stanford reinstating the 11 sports it had slated for discontinuation, two of which I work directly with.
This or that: Would you rather be a genius and know everything or be amazing at any activity you tried?
Brooks: I would rather be a beast at every activity and then I would drop everything and build myself a mansion and a Tesla from scratch.
Bjornstal: Be amazing at any activity because I love to try new things.
Hartigan: Seeing as though I'm neither and surrounded by amazing colleagues that seem to be both, I'd prefer a commitment that I can continue working with people on my team that complement my faults.
Verlengiere: Be amazing at any activity.
This or that: If you were responsible for choosing whether the world would have bagels or donuts, which one would you choose?
Brooks: Donuts all day long!
Bjornstal: Donuts! What can I say? I have a major sweet tooth!
Hartigan: Bagels. Just more versatile.
Verlengiere: Are they New York or New Jersey bagels? If so, bagels for sure. If not, definitely donuts.