The Reason I Moved From Colorado To Columbus

The leaves are changing colors and starting to fall off trees here in Columbus, Ohio. This means two things: time for the pumpkin flavor to start appearing in everything from desserts to drinks to sandwiches. And this time of the year also means this is the end of a another soccer season.

This season I coached seven year-olds, the JV-B soccer team at Upper Arlington High School, I coached Intramural Sports at Jones Middle School, and I became the Administrator for the Pre-Academy program with Columbus Crew SC Player Development. Obviously, it taught me how important time management skills are to your everyday life. Scheduling, prioritizing, execution, and review become vital to the development of my "career". Why do I put quotes around "career", you ask? Well, my "career" is something I put before everything since I arrived in Columbus. Developing my skill set and gaining experience for the future was important to me. While I'm not arguing that that is not it true and I regret it, but that I learned a valuable lesson since my arrival in this city: life is not always fair.

For those of you who do not know, I came to Columbus from Colorado for an unpaid internship at Columbus Crew SC. I was given a chance to to move across country after I graduated college to work in a a part of business that excited me the most: youth soccer. Many people thought I was crazy. "Why did you move from beautiful Colorado to Ohio?" many ask. Good question.

It was an opportunity for me to start fresh, to learn something new about myself, and to be exposed to an environment that was unknown to me. Columbus Crew SC gave me an opportunity to make something of myself and to build a platform that would help me transition into the business world. I have been involved in more things than I could have ever imagined and this would not have happened if I had not take this opportunity. An opportunity that would eventually teach more lessons than I would have ever thought.

This opportunity came as a result of having ambition and a desired result. Laying out goals for myself has helped me accomplish what I want in life. This is what I began to instill in my players at Upper Arlington High School. At the beginning of the season, I met with each player to discuss their team and individual goals for the season. This gave the players something to work towards rather than just playing another soccer season. This season was an example of an opportunity each player worked towards and created for themselves. Each player had goals at the beginning of the season and by the end of the season, evaluate their progress. If they met those goals great. If they did not, it is not the end of the world. They will think, "Why did I not achieve those goals? What happened that prevented me from succeeding?" Then they will fix those issues and improve upon them in the future, making their self-reflection period important in their development.

Even with all the preparation, the work ethic, and the desire to reach those goals, the positive outcome may not always be shoveled out. Unfortunately, you may work your butt off but you will not get the desired outcome you expected. And that may hurt your self-esteem. You may not be able to get back from it until you reach the next opportunity. Life is not fair, but you can not get discouraged when the opportunities are not always positive. Life does not care when you are feeling sorry for yourself when you do not get what you want. Life goes on and it will leave you behind if you choose to wallow in your own self-pity. Once you feel sorry for yourself, you start going backwards rather than move forwards with a positive attitude. The "only disability in life is a bad attitude" and that alone will cripple you for life.

An ESPN Video shows this similar message in a different light: A Reason To Win.

Now I ask: do you view every mistake you make as a negative? Or do you see those mistakes as something you can learn from and make strides forward towards the next opportunity? With ambitions, the only way to go is up.

So, take a step back. Look around you and think about what you have in your life. Go ahead, smile. I know you want to. That smile is infectious and I guarantee others will smile back.

Roads? Where We're Going, We Don't Need Roads

This is a guest blog post for my sister's former company, Prizmiq. Surprisingly, I found the draft unpublished from November of 2014. So, here it is. I hope it feels as if you are stepping into a time machine.

Enlightenment and Gratitude

Hello everyone! I am sorry all of my updates have been few and far between. But that must mean my life is staying busy, right? I know all of you are waiting anxiously for my updates out here in Columbus, as I have been getting some nasty phone calls and hate mail (kidding).

In the past few months as well as the past year, my career in the professional world has grown an exceptional amount. As a person, I now have my purpose. A purpose that only I would have discovered if I had ventured out here to Columbus for an internship with the Columbus Crew(now, Columbus Crew SC). That purpose involved enlightening others on my own personal interests and teaching them different aspects combined with my passion of soccer. Mix all of that in a (small) melting pot, and you get a soccer coach. A Columbus Crew Juniors Coach and Upper Arlington High School Men's Varsity Assistant Coach is what I am at this moment.

I have always loved enlightening people whether it be showing my friends new music, teaching them about wine, or coaching soccer. When people learn new practices or subjects, their lives change after learning that particular skill or extra knowledge. Their minds are open to new information they never would have learned until I showed them. When I realized that about myself, coaching soccer was my calling and I could not let that urge go.

My life is filled with soccer at the moment and I could not be more happy. My own birthday was filled with nothing but the beautiful game. Waking up at 5:00am to work a soccer tournament to driving an hour to coach a game to driving back to see our own Columbus Crew SC play with my friends. My birthday was literally packed full of soccer and I could have have asked for a better day. The weekend was topped off with a dinner at Schmidt's Sausage Haus, which was fantastisch (that is German for "fantastic", for those of you who are culturally challenged).

This past year has been uplifting and this city has been amazing to me thanks to great colleagues and friends. My supervisor, Jeremy, selected me out of 100 applicants to travel out to Columbus for an unpaid internship and I can not thank him enough for having faith in me. My supervisor on the soccer field, Nick, gave me an opportunity at coaching six and seven year-old boys, and also referred me to the Assistant Coaching position at Upper Arlington High School of which I am so grateful. I want to thank my roommates for trusting me enough in a thirty minute interview to agree to live with me for several months. I could not have asked for a better group of people to be involved with at this stage of my life, and I want to succeed for them. I never thought I would find my calling in Ohio, of all places. But I can not think of a better place for me right now than at the Columbus Crew SC here in Columbus, Ohio.

Whichever family I will be intruding on this Thanksgiving, I may have to trim down my list of things to be thankful for as the stuffing may get cold after I am finished (and let's be honest, none of us want that).

Do not think I have forgotten about my family and friends all around the country, and all around the world. I will see you again!

(For you Coloradoans, I will be back in the mountain state from December 16th-30th)

I Wish You Could See This

Are you missing Stu yet? If you are, here is where I am at this very moment:

This is a picture taken outside of a coffee lounge where they make fantastic drinks with even tastier after-dinner treats. You see the moon in the background? That is because it is 9 o'clock at night. I am writing on the patio of this lounge of which I am enjoying this pleasant 84 degree weather. "Wait a second. Stu, I thought you were in Ohio? I didn't know this town you lived in was so unique that it had gorgeous backdrops with fascinating architecture around every corner!" You better believe what you are looking at because my phone does not have the capabilities of taking great pictures by itself. 

There is one thing I can tell you about this town I have lived in for the past four months. This is one of the great cities in the country that was not built from negative people. Columbus is like a sponge where it absorbs people for college, sports (Columbus Crew, Columbus Blue Jackets, Columbus Clippers and who could forget, The Ohio State University), and that big city-small town feel. Positive acts are what keep Columbus alive and thriving. Negativity does not fair well in this city, or in any city for that matter. Keep negativity away from me as well. Because I can see myself grow right before my eyes and it is exciting for me to see what I am able to do in such a place as Columbus.

This goes for anywhere you are in the world. Take the positives out of everything around you because negativity does not lead to prosperity or happiness. I'll take the positive path without negativity, thank you very much. My lifelong dream will become a reality as a result. This town has given me an aspiring feeling to become someone my friends and family will be proud to know and love. I can feel the potential growing inside of me, and it is helping me gain my self respect. With that, I can bet there is more to come from this boy slowly becoming a man. Be patient world, just like I have been patient with you. I hope you are watching.  

Three Tips To Becoming A True Newcastle United FC Supporter

Newcastle United FC: A club with magnificent history, passionate fans and a team that has topsy turvy performances year after year. One moment we finish close to the top of the Premier League table and the next, we are in a relegation battle. But if there are any Geordies (Newcastle fans) reading this, fear not. You are not alone in supporting the greatest club on the planet! There are fans around the world, including myself (currently residing in Ohio, U.S.) watching my beloved club every day and just waiting for their reign to spike again. But Newcastle United will always be my team, and is one of the many reasons I love this game so much.

I’m sure you all want to become a true fan of Newcastle United, right? Here are my three tips on becoming a Geordie.

1. Represent The Toon

Newcastle United FC lives because of the support from its faithful fans. Newcastle United would not be a phenomenal team if it was not for us. So wear the black and white with pride, and don't take any offense from another supporter. And you will get this. This will show the passion that you have for the club, especially during its difficult times. No fair-weather fans are allowed in the black and white! When Newcastle United wins a title, the feeling of victory will be that much sweeter when you stick with them through thick and thin. This leads me to my next tip…

2. Try Not To Be Surprised By The Show

This club is a roller coaster, plain and simple. The colors are a great representation of the club, in that we are either here or there. Black and white, nothing in between. The players are giving their all, or not giving anything at all. We either love the coaches/owners, or despise them. The antics that happen around St. James' Park will always rev our engines but at the end of the day, we will always say the same thing: "Ho'way the Lads." (translation from Geordie dialect: “Come on, boys!”)

3. Remember Why You Support Newcastle

Older players may have sparked your passion for the club such as the great Jackie Milburn, Malcolm Macdonald or David Ginola. Alan Shearer was the best player for Newcastle from its most recent times. Or you may have started watching the “toon” play during a fantastic era, such as the early 90’s when they were nicknamed “The Entertainers.” I started watching Newcastle in the early 2000's, and we definitely had a rocky period around that time for many depressing reasons. But the special people around you might kick-off your passion and continue it as well. My father has also been a fan for his whole life, and we fuel each other's fire when it comes to the supporting this great club. There is nothing more valuable to someone than a shared passion, especially with a parent. Newcastle makes our bond stronger. The day Newcastle wins a trophy, I am celebrating it with my Dad. Because he was the one that gave me the feeling of devotion to this club.

All of us fans support Newcastle in our own ways, but the fact remains that the common denominator is the love for this club. That is something to be remembered while we are still alive to watch this club continue to grow and improve. And improve we will! We all know when we have a bad run of form, a great run of form is just around the bend. And now, I will leave you all with a piece of our unofficial song of Newcastle United. I hope to hear you all sing this song loud and proud very soon.

Blaydon Races

 Ah me lads, ye shud only seen us gannin',

We pass'd the foaks upon the road just as they wor stannin';

Thor wes lots o' lads an' lasses there, all wi' smiling faces,

Gawn alang the Scotswood Road, to see the Blaydon Races.

Run, Forrest. Run

Being in Ohio has made me realize something. The new places and cities we visit help us grow as people. Travel is what grows us. Whether it is Ohio, Florida, or travelling to Thailand for a few months, those people come back with a better knowledge of the world and themselves. Going to a new place with no prior knowledge of your surroundings helps you realize how beautiful this world is. To do this, you must be able to leave your "home" and everything that is associated with it.

My advice to anyone who is reading this is do not let anything hold you back from what you want in life. If there is something that is not letting you be who you are, cut ties with it and move on. Because in the end, the most important thing in life is yourself. Like Charlie's "Golden Ticket" in Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, keep a hold of your dream and don't stop until you get it. Because your aspirations and your well-being is more important than something that does not let you reach them. But keep in mind, don't forget your home and the people that sculpted you. They will always be there for you and love you until the very end. And you will be able to celebrate your accomplishments with them, so you will realize how far you have come.

So, run Forrest. Run.

The MLS Youth System

I am ecstatic about the future of soccer in this country. The academies, clubs, and developmental programs are gaining more players that are going on to play in college or even on professional teams. February 5th was the Columbus Crew Youth's College Signing Night and it was evident that the coaches truly believed the players would go on to bigger and better things. These kids were something special, because they went through adversities early on in their careers and they grew from their challenges. I can relate to them and I know I will be able to make my dreams come true. We are all in control of our own destiny and it all hinges upon our choices in how we handle challenges.

The opportunities that these players gained from progressing in the youth academies at the Columbus Crew were magnificent and something of which I could have only dreamed. Taking the next big step to push themselves in college (and many of them are going to Division I schools) is the best choice. It was an event that I was able to look upon and wish that I had the same opportunity as them. But my goals have changed now. I want to be a part of the development of youth and use soccer as an avenue for their success. The development of my favorite sport in this country is my passion and I want to spread that passion to others. Spreading the love and bringing the best out of people are what leaders do best. And I believe that the best human beings are coaches/leaders. Because they do things to their players that are unbelievable at times, they turn players 180 degrees for them to fully realize their potential. They are a special breed. It is an art to become a leader/coach and it will take a lot of work, but I believe I am up for the challenge.

Columbus Crew College Signing Night