Danielle Williams

There is not a single attribute, rather my "success" belongs to a collection of moments over the course of the last 15 years. Success is a moniker for a fairy tale ending to chapters in someone's life after checking off a list or marking a task "complete". If each person's story begins and ends differently, then success should to. This is what I had to learn at the beginning of my career. I have lost count of how many times I compared my path to others', how many times I have doubted my place and contributions because of someone else's words, or how many times I asked myself, "Am I doing enough?". I was discounting my knowledge, my skills and my success to prop up the deficiencies of others. It's a burden that changes your trajectory little by little until one day you look up confused, not knowing how you got here or how to get back to your story.

So, I did what any rational person would do- I woke up and ripped the script. I cataloged and took pride in all the achievements that got me to this moment and took note on the mistakes I had to learn from, both on equal footing. Seeing my achievements hold the same weight as my mistakes allowed me to step back and stop chasing the next one and the one after that. It's an endless cycle that wears you down and I was tired of trying to hold everything together to protect an image of success. This was a process and a gradual change in conscious choices to be a better version of myself instead of a perfect one.

My "Yes Year" in 2024 was the catalyst. Travelling to a new place? Yes. Volunteering to build dog begs or build a house? Yes. Trying foods I convinced myself I did not like? Yes. Reading a book in a day like I did when I was a kid just because? Yes. Being more present with family and friends? Yes. Watching my list of saved YouTube videos to learn a new skill I put off? Yes. While my no's still carried weight and stayed true to my convictions, my yes' became my success story because I was living and working for me again. It's amazing how much lighter you feel when you realize you were the protagonist and antagonist in your own story.

The biggest scam in life is people making you think you don't belong. You do belong as long as you believe in yourself. Sports is always a very hard thing to get into, but if you push yourself and prove to yourself that you can do the work, then everyone else is a non-factor. Find somewhere small you can work your way up, learn the system, learn the organization, learn the people, learn how to connect, learn how the business works. And from there, you are your own responsibility. Put yourself in places where you can make sure your voice is heard and to make sure you're seen. And don't let anyone ever make you feel like you're less than for doing it.

The biggest challenges in my field right now saying no to myself and saying no to others. Everyone thinks the sports world is this big, magnanimous conglomerate, but that would only describe the fandoms and the reach, not the drastically smaller and constantly changing front office behind the scenes making the decisions. That is why networking becomes your best friend. No two organizations are the same so there is an underlying initiative that drives you to learn, evolve, become more involved, and say "yes". How do you say "no" in a field where "yes" -to opportunity, to colleagues, to fans- has been deemed a pillar of success? A "no" could mean you lose a connection. A "no" could mean you are bypassed for a promotion. A "no" could lead to several scenarios, and have you regret your choices in an instant. I tested it.

For a year, I said "yes" to almost everything- events, trips, work opportunities, and more. About halfway through the year, there was a shift in my mindset. As a leader, I learned to delegate. Leaders that don't delegate aren't superheroes that are strong enough to do everything themselves. It just means they haven't trained their team enough or they don't trust their team enough to handle it without them. I had to ask myself, "are you busy because you're working or are you doing busy work?" As a person, I learned personal boundaries. You owe people love not access. Access is earned. The more you allow others to encroach on those boundaries, the less you have for yourself until one day you wake up and the person staring back at you in the mirror is unrecognizable. I had to realize I am allowed to keep my peace while I work. As a woman working in sports, I learned self-worth. I cannot be put into one category or a box checked off a list. My identity is not tied to my title. My worth is not a measure of my production. I had to realize it's okay to see myself and put myself first.

Now, I say "no" when the yes is not beneficial to my team and the organization, to the fan and to the operation, or to myself and the work I am doing. I say yes because I want to, not because I have to and I am better for it.