Did you know that the person who coined the phrases “Dipsy-doo dunk-a-roo,” or “He is a diaper dandy” and “Get a TO, baby!” can actually teach us all a little something about how we can make the most of our careers? Some of you may have read those phrases and known exactly who I was talking about. Others may have no clue. So that we are all on the same page, I am referring to the enthusiastic ESPN college basketball announcer Dick Vitale. 

I started following college basketball in the mid-1980s when I was in junior high. You could say I was a college basketball junkie. Back then, Dick Vitale was no more than a voice announcing the games—and an annoying one at that. Today, I watch college basketball to hear what Vitale has to say. He’s no longer an annoyance—in fact, he’s now an inspiration. I found three concepts that his life can teach us about our search for the right career.

If one door is shut, find another door.

Vitale wasn’t always a broadcaster. He actually began as a successful high school and college coach, then moved from the college game into the NBA. He was the head coach of the Detroit Pistons in 1978; however, he was fired in his second season because of the team’s poor record.

Imagine how tough that would be. Vitale spent most of his life preparing to be a coach, working his way up through the ranks. When he finally arrived, he failed. But he didn’t give up—he simply found a new door in broadcasting. Now, he’s college basketball’s top analyst and ambassador.

Have you tried a career that didn’t work out? Has the door of opportunity been shut? If so, take a lesson from Dick Vitale and don’t quit. Find another door. It may take some exploration, but there is another door out there.

Have a genuine love and passion for whatever job you do.

I cannot count the number of times I have heard Vitale excitedly exclaim, “I cannot believe I get paid for this, I'm stealing money, baby!” Can you imagine thinking that about your job? Waking up everyday excited to go to work. I believe it is possible. Vitale was able to take his passion and turn it into a career.

What’s your passion? Teaching, mentoring, volunteering learning new information, developing creative solutions, researching? How could you use that passion in your job? You might be surprised at the answers you discover.

So, what if you don’t know what you passion is or how to relate it to work? I invite you to take either the Meyers Briggs Interest Inventory or the Gallup Strengths Quest Inventory which is mentioned in this quarterly newsletter. They will help you pinpoint what your strengths and passions are and how you can best use them in your place of employment. After some introspection you may find out that you want to pursue a new career. No matter what you find, you will be a lot happier if you have a genuine love and passion for the job you do.

Find outside interests that ignite your passions.

Vitale is not only a college basketball announcer: he is a motivational speaker, a radio host, an actor and, most importantly, a member of the Board of Directors of the V Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to finding a cure for cancer. Vitale’s passion for basketball is nothing compared to that of his work with the V-Foundation. I truly believe his passion has encouraged others to give millions of dollars for the study of cancer. 

I am not naïve enough to think that we all can find careers that we are passionate about. Life happens. Some of us are working jobs so we can support our families and it is almost impossible to find something in that job to get excited about. However, there are things outside the realm of work that you can do to ignite your passions. Maybe it is volunteering for an animal shelter. Maybe it is writing dramas for your church. Maybe it is mentoring children in reading. Who knows what kind of positive effect you can have if you express your passions in the world. It is amazing what little lessons we can learn when we take the time to observe others.