Planning, asking for help keys to success, students told
College alumnus now executive with Miami Heat of NBA
Students at Lethbridge College started their new school year by hearing from an alumnus who has worked in the NHL, NBA and NFL.
John Vidalin is the executive vicepresident and chief revenue officer for the Miami Heat of the NBA, where he is responsible for driving the club’s local, regional, national and international business opportunities. He also worked in the NFL and was the chief sales officer for the San Francisco 49ers.
He also spent time with the Houston Texans of the NFL. Prior to that, he worked in the NHL with the Calgary Flames and Washington Capitals organizations.
Vidalin is originally from Edmonton and graduated from the Lethbridge College Communication Arts program in 1991.
“One of the things they asked me to help the students realize is that they have a lot of resources available to them,” he said. “But it is a big first step, and they asked me to connect the dots for them.”
Vidalin said post-secondary education is that first “dot,” which leads to more dots down the road.
“I wanted to weave in some personal experiences since I left here,” he said. “Things I’d learned and seen.”
Some key messages included in his speech involve ways of handling challenges that Vidalin has used in his life to be successful. He highlighted the importance of taking logical first steps, making a plan, not getting overwhelmed, asking for help.
“Take steps with intention,” he said. “Make sure you understand that every step you take, if you are not having a plan for the end goal, you are probably setting yourself up to fail. But when you think about the resources available to you, and the things you need to do to make every logical step along the way, look at your end goal, and stay focused on it. You are going to get where you want to get.
“But if you don’t have a plan and don’t use the resources available to you, you may not get there.”
Vidalin also talked about the importance of knowing when you need help and securing that help.
“Don’t be afraid to ask for help,” he said. “Along the way, everybody needs help. Plan, and ask for help, and you will probably be successful.”
Vidalin said while the world has changed since his days at Lethbridge College, many things have remained the same.
“You still have to either go on to other post-secondary education, or you need to find a job in the real world,” he said. “Having people give you advice they learned the hard way, and if you are willing to listen.”
It is hoped students will take advantage of the opportunity to hear from someone who has successfully navigated their career, and apply it to their own situation.
“There are many things I wish people would have told me 30 years ago,” Vidalin said. “Like Day One or One Day. Every day you have a chance to make a decision to make a decision to take a logical step to improve yourself.”
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