Win The Day with Wasson

What is the Key to a Successful Career? Discipline is the “It Factor.”

Entrepreneurs and innovators crave the “it factor,” and businesses and industries desire it more. The secret sauce allows an individual to see the potential in the overlooked, turn a risk into a reward, and innovate where stagnation exists. Determining one’s “it factor” might seem as elusive and enigmatic as finding a four-leaf clover, but there is no magic formula. It might come down to one simple ingredient—discipline. This sound advice comes from someone who forged his career path with the mantra of discipline, Andre’ Caldwell. To be that leader and create one’s unique platform for success, Caldwell believes that discipline can take people far in life. He knew early on that he wanted to be a lawyer. He used his determination and self-discipline throughout his career. Caldwell shared his philosophy on using discipline as his “it factor” to create opportunities in his career with #Win The Day’s host Chase Wasson. “That discipline piece was big for me,” Caldwell told Wasson. “I watched my parents work hard. They were dedicated to their respective crafts. I mean, we had hard times, and while there was opportunity to complain about something, I never really heard them complain. I saw them pick themselves up and keep moving.” On this episode of #Win The Day, Wasson and Caldwell discuss: Caldwell’s journey working at the U.S. Attorney’s office straight out of law school Utilizing an athlete mindset for prepping for critical moments The importance of constant learning throughout one’s career “One thing that drives me is not getting stale,” Caldwell said. “Stale is obsolete. Stale is outdated. No one wants stale. They want fresh; they want energetic; they want outgoing. And that doesn’t mean you change who you are. I think you work within those parameters. I would say I’m an extroverted introvert. I like my alone time, but I can extrovert with the best of them. I like talking to and interacting with people. And I leverage that to fit within the parameters of where I wanted to take my career.”  About Andre’ Before his current role, Andre Caldwell was Co-Chair of the National Workplace Investigations and Organizational Assessments for a significant labor and employment law firm. He began his career as an Assistant United States Attorney with the Violent Crimes/Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force at the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Oklahoma. During his tenure as an AUSA, he tried over twenty cases and was awarded the Federal Bureau of Investigation Director’s Award for Excellence by then FBI Director Robert Mueller.

Being a Self-Starting Innovator

Athletes, especially at higher levels like college or professional, tend to view themselves through the lens of their sport. This can create issues when, after years of associating with their sport, they have to take their identity and transition it to “real life.” So, how can high-level performers like athletes build their own brands that will last them well past the life of their sport? On today’s episode of #Win the Day, host Chase Wasson met with Will Baggett, Co-Founder, Chief of Content and Brand Strategy, Monetize Your Message, to talk about his journey helping athletes with personal branding and what it looks like to be a self-starting innovator. Personal branding can involve quite a few variables—genuineness, telling a story, and legacy, to name a few. But Baggett boils it down to two main things. “A personal brand is two things: it’s consistency and frequency… Whatever you do on a consistent basis and whatever you do on a frequent basis becomes your brand. Because whenever I’m working with a large group of students or a large audience, I can’t tell every individual in there how to build a brand. Because there may be 300 different brands they want to build.” Wasson and Baggett also discussed: Where the market for individuals leveraging their personal brand for corporate success is heading What makes high-level performers different in how they approach things and how grit unlocks the “it” factor How Baggett is helping athletes shape their lives after sports He added, “I think when your brand is more so known for a way of doing things, a way of life, a way of temperament, or how you treat people, or how you approach your day, I think that will get you farther than the bells and whistles… Always start from the inside out.” Will Baggett is Co-Founder, Chief of Content and Brand Strategy of Monetize Your Message. Baggett has a B.S. from the University of Mississippi in Exercise Science and a Master’s Degree in Sports Management Education from Baylor University. Baggett is a former major sports event administrator and has helped conduct the Super Bowl and high-profile college football games. Baggett is the author of The Blueprint for a Successful Career and the founder of the Texas Regional Sports Summit, which supports young professionals in their development.

The World of Sportscasting from the Eyes of Ric Renner

The sports broadcasting world is an important aspect of sports. Sportscasting not only provides sports fans with vital information, but also colorful commentary about certain games and events. Today, what initially started out on the radio has grown to become one of the biggest areas of the media industry. While a career in sportscasting can have its pros and cons, it can take a lot of leg work to make turn into a successful career. Legendary sportscaster Ric Renner would know a few things about having a prosperous sporting career. How did he get his start in the field and what does he advise for up-and-coming sportscasters? In the latest episode of “#WinTheDay,” host Chase Wasson interviewed Emmy-winning Regional Sports Network host, Ric Renner, about his sportscasting career and finding success. The two also talked about what inspired Renner to pursue a career in sports broadcasting, the sacrifices he made to get started, and lessons learned. In the early stages of his career Renner said that he didn’t make a lot of money but went along because he wanted the experience. It was there he encountered several cons of working with a small company and relative outcomes. “I had to do a lot of moving to get there, and there's a lot of trials and tribulations because the stations that take chances on you are probably the stations that are not doing very well — because they're the ones that have all the changes. So, as you're working your way up, you're dealing with a lot of that stuff,” said Renner. Wasson and Renner further discuss... ● How Renner became interested in broadcasting ● The way the pandemic further shaped sportscasting online and its evolution ● Renner’s experience fresh out of Syracuse and his advice for young and potential sportscasters “So many people that come out of Syracuse — they're ready to go, they’re ready to work from day one. That's what I got out of that and gave me the passion to keep getting better. And constantly look at yourself. I don't really enjoy watching myself on television, but that's the best way to get yourself better. No critic is better than yourself,” said Renner. Ric Renner is the host on Regional Sports Network’s FOX Sports Southwest. He’s hosted live sportscasting news from high school to professional sporting events and has over two decades of experience as a sportscaster. He’s won an Emmy award 13 times for his work.

#WintheDay: Steve Tate’s Story

Taking advantage of open opportunities and putting yourself out there might be scary - but often, it’s worth it. Willingness to learn in a new environment is not only a critical aspect to being a successful professional, but it is also a valued aspect in the workplace. So, how has one man’s journey transpired from this lesson? In this episode of #WintheDay with Wasson, host Chase Wasson speaks to Steve Tate, Financial Advisor to Ameriprise Financial Services about his personal battles and how his background and mindset has led him to #WintheDay. Tate’s success didn’t come from luck, it came from hard work, passion, determination, and love. While working to support his growing family, Tate and his wife received the news that one of their triplets had terminal brain cancer. The HayesTough Foundation grew out of his legacy. “We got the devastating news that it…was terminal…and again, you know, nothing prepares you in life for that…and I’ve struggled, I think sometimes I do my best to put on the happy face but it’s a struggle…but I do it for my other kids,” said Tate. The two speak about… 1) Tate’s determination and leaps of faith in putting his family first 2) How sharing his journey in a published book has uplifted others 3) How being his genuine self helps others #wintheday Tate said, “I think I’ve found this, I’ve found pleasure in making people laugh…it’s almost as if making other people laugh kind of alleviates my pain in some regards.” Tate is a graduate of the University of Utah, where he earned his BA in Economics, balancing his academics while playing Division I sports. Prior to his current role as Financial Advisor to Ameriprise Financial Services, Tate worked in sales and clinical rep positions with St. Jude Medical, Boston Scientific, and Sanofi-Aventis.

How to Maximize Post-Sport Success: Utilizing Resources and Social Networks

Life after playing collegiate and professional sports can be challenging for athletes who have dedicated much of their lives to the game. However, it can also be an opportunity for personal and professional growth, including exploring new interests and career paths. But how should former players navigate their newfound post-sport lives? On today's episode of Win the Day, host Chase Wasson speaks with Calvin Smith, an Enterprise Account Executive at CORTI, to talk about his journey navigating post-sport life and how he found success through leveraging different social and professional networks. While some former players become coaches and commentators or work in the sports industry, others choose to transition into completely differnt industries, using the skills and discipline developed through their sport careers. "To build yourself for success after you have left the sporting level comes down to two things, your ability to network, build the brand you speak about, and your work ethic," said Smith. Wasson and Smith also discussed… ● What traits or qualities do the most successful NFL players possess, both on and off the field? ● How LinkedIn has helped athletes build success after their sports careers are over ● How you can leverage social networks to maximize success early on "Having the fortitude of the bigger picture of what is to come and having that earlier on, especially walking in your career, can set you up for major success," said Smith. Calvin Smith has been an Enterprise Account executive with Corti since the beginning of 2023. Prior to this, he worked as a Cardiac Rhythm Sales Representative for Abbott. He is a graduate of East Tennessee State University, where he obtained his Bachelor's degree in Marketing with a focus in healthcare management, while playing football for the University.