People love to put you in a box.
When I played football at the University of Washington, I was the guy in the locker room quoting Jeopardy! answers between film sessions. My teammates would look at me sideways. “Bro, how do you know that?” Simple. I watched Jeopardy! every single day. Still do. And I’m not ashamed of it.
See, here’s the thing about being a former college football player who also happens to be a self-proclaimed trivia nerd, a broadcasting junkie, and a guy who genuinely gets excited about public speaking — people don’t know what to do with you. You don’t fit the mold. You’re not the stereotypical “jock” who only talks about sports. You’re not the “nerd” who can’t hold his own in a room full of athletes. You’re both. And in a world that loves labels, being both can be confusing for people.
But here’s what I’ve learned over the years: the paradox IS the superpower.
When I’m hosting an event in front of thousands of people at a charity gala, the football player in me takes over. The confidence. The ability to read the room like I used to read a defense. The instinct to adjust on the fly when something isn’t working. That’s all football. But when I’m sitting down with a CEO for a communications coaching session, the nerd kicks in. The preparation. The research. The ability to break down complex ideas into simple, actionable strategies. That’s the Jeopardy! kid.
I spent years trying to figure out which “lane” I was supposed to be in. Was I the sports guy? The media guy? The motivational speaker? The coach? And then one day it hit me — I’m ALL of those things. And trying to be just one of them would be like trying to run a football play with only half the playbook. You’re leaving points on the field.
The Power of “And”
I think a lot of people — especially young professionals — struggle with this same thing. Society tells you to “niche down.” Find your lane. Stay in it. And look, I get it. There’s wisdom in focus. But there’s also a trap in it. Because when you limit yourself to one identity, you cut off all the other parts of who you are that make you interesting.
I’m a keynote speaker AND a Husky football alum. A broadcaster AND a trivia geek. An event host AND a communications coach. A co-host of The Barbershop Show on 710 ESPN AND a guy who gets fired up about helping executives find their voice.
The “and” is where the magic happens.
So if you’ve been struggling with this — if someone has told you that you need to “pick a lane” and it just doesn’t feel right — I want you to hear this from me: You don’t have to choose. The world needs more people who refuse to be put in a box. The world needs more paradoxes.
Trust me, the people who have made the biggest impact on my life — coaches, mentors, broadcasters, teachers — they were ALL multi-dimensional. They brought their whole selves to the table. And that’s exactly what I challenge you to do.
Bring all of it. The jock. The nerd. The dreamer. The doer. Whatever your version of the paradox is — own it.
Because THAT is how you bring the gold out of every conversation.
