We'll never get rich, so let's have some fun
25 Mar, 2007 By: Ron Hall Athletic Turf News
Lord knows, you guys and gals taking care of sports fields —whether you’re at a university, municipal parks department or professional complex — are never going to get rich. Not in the business anyway. In the relative importance of things, like nurses in our hospitals and the kind-hearted folks that care for our elderly in nursing homes, you’re underpaid for what you do. Often grossly underpaid. At least in terms of financial rewards.
But there are other rewards, and probably the reason you’re in this business.
- You like sports, and chances are you’ve played or, perhaps even, you’re still participating.
- You like working outside and working with your hands as well as your minds.
- You like the people you meet in this business. It didn’t take you long to recognize that you can’t be a snooty, corporate type and still be a sports field manager. It just doesn’t work. You can’t be lazy or unmotivated. You’ll never last in this business. Professional? Yes. Organized? Yes. A big shot? A big hell no.
- You like networking with colleagues and sharing real-life experiences. (Who cares if you embellish them a little bit; it’s expected.)
- You’re a lifelong learner. (You figure if you’re never going to get rich in this business, you might as well get smart, in fact smarter than your boss, right?)
All of the above are good reasons for attending as many industry events this year as your schedules and finances will allow. Start by finding out about and joining local and regional organizations and associations and marking their events on your calendars.
Don’t do this in a vacuum. Talk to your employers and tell them about these organizations and why and how your participation in them will benefit the facilities you manage. Remember, the better you do your job, the better they look to their bosses, and everybody has a boss.
In a related note, keep Athletic Turf News informed of what’s going on with you, your career and your organization, as well. We’ll post it and share it with the rest of the industry. Lord knows, we’re never going to get rich in this business so we might as well get together whenever we can, share some experiences and stories, learn . . . and have some fun.
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