Moving up and over

by Nicole on February 25, 2011

Today marked my first day as Community Relations Manager for the Washington Nationals. While it mostly consisted of moving the contents of my desk over and trying to wrap my mind around all of the things we need to get done before Opening Day (34 days people!), I’m very excited.

I started in Inside Sales for the Nationals in December 2009 after working in public relations since graduating. I’d had some experience and success in various sales roles before, but this was a big switch for me. To say sales is challenging is an understatement, and it has a certain stigma when you tell people what you do. But I know that I am better communicator – and professional in general – because of my time in Inside Sales and (since May 2010) Client Service.

People often ask me about getting a job in professional sports. There’s no right or wrong way, I just know what I did, and how it turned out. Taking an entry-level job, especially after building up your career, is a risk. But sometimes you have to go backward/sideways to go forward.

My position in Season Ticket Service is now open for applications. If you think you’re a competitive candidate, I encourage you  to apply. I was fortunate to work for and with people I respect, and that’s not always the case.

If you have any questions, you know how to reach me. In the meantime, I’m somewhere beneath a pile of papers, trying to create order from chaos.

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How many languages do you speak?

by Nicole on January 17, 2011

Last week, the department heads brought in Bill Guertin of the 800-Pound Gorilla for some updated training for our sales and service staff. I’ve had the opportunity to go through a few of Bill’s sessions since I started with the Nationals, and I once again found his workshop to be engaging and educational. I’m big on energy, and as Chief Enthusiasm Officer (CEO), Bill has it in spades.

One of the topics that we touched on in the most recent session was the idea of how many languages you speak, and how you can apply those to your job every day. Not languages as in “I speak fluent Japanese” (which I don’t), but in terms of what experiences you bring to the table. For example, my husband is military, so I would perhaps be more comfortable building a relationship with the MWR versus someone who might not be as familiar with the culture. Maybe you grew up doing theatre, or your parents were realtors. That knowledge base could come in handy as your grow your network.

I’m curious as to what other people think. How many languages do you speak? How are you applying them in your current position – or how could you apply them better?

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Listening, and when to stop.

November 2, 2010

In my career, I’ve done as much “relating” as anyone. Media relations, client relations, community relations…you get the idea. I’m always the first person to say that building relationships is more about listening than it is about talking.
(And I stand by that. It’s very important.)
But sometimes…you just have to walk away.
(Cue Ben Harper music here.)
OK, [...]

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Falling (back) in love with my job. Or: My grandmother is cooler than I am.

October 9, 2010

My aunt and my grandmother came to visit me for a few days this summer when the Nats were on the road. While I was disappointed that I wouldn’t be able to bring them to one of our games, my Red Sox were visiting the O’s, so I got in touch with a former coworker [...]

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30-second life (and business) lesson from Modern Family

September 29, 2010

MITCHELL: Can people change? I don’t know. People are who they are. Give or take…about fifteen percent. That’s how much people can change if they really want to. Whether it’s for themselves or the people they love, yeah, it’s fifteen percent. But sometimes, that’s enough.
I’ve been catching up on the show Modern Family recently, and [...]

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