13. The Man Who Builds Bridges

Phil Knight’s words to me in 2004 when I told him that I was torn between pursuing what I believed to be my higher purpose or staying at Nike. My extraordinaire 

ENCOURAGERS: Peter Ruppe “PR”/Gina Angelique Warren/Lesly Mundy/H.White

For the last 17 years I’ve actively practiced a ritual of keeping/archiving at least one airline bag tag + one room key from every business-related trip. I had a custom case designed to store & display the plethora of precious keepsakes! + W.H. Murray - COMMITMENT Quote

- An interview, playing a weekly game of TAG, a community youth event + an unexpected feature story in the Oregonian create the possibility of embarking on a new journey.

- “The first 60-90 days at a new job... always listen more & speak less.” - Words of advice from Peter Ruppe when I came to Nike. His advice proved to be incredibly insightful.

“Trenton + Spike Lee + "H" White = Katalyst” - Summer of 1995 in Trenton, New Jersey, at Nike’s “Believe To Achieve” event where my encounter with Howard “H” White sparked the next unexpected chapter in my KARAYZEE journey.

The words that I heard from Avery Johnson in 1994, he was a standout player on the San Antonio Spurs. It’s my belief that doing tasks that might be considered menial and not glamorous (aka THE LONELY WORK) are necessary for success. You gotta TRUST & BELIEVE that hard work NEVER goes unrewarded!

My infatuation with basketball “bounced” me into realizing an audacious childhood fantasy/dream of being in the NBA.  In 1995 that crazy goal manifested in a way that I could have never scripted! Simple Truth: HATERS ARE MY MOTIVATORS!

– The summer of ‘86 in San Angelo, TX  proved to be the genesis of my journey of learning that if I want something bad enough, I have to be willing to pay my dues.

– The single word that Coach Mac spoke before tossing me the keys to the training room at The Haverford School - my first job as an athletic trainer. That moment catalyzes a series of fortunate + serendipitous events.

– an early childhood lesson from my Mom-Mom gave me the courage to brazenly speak up on career day at USAF basic training & that decision changed my military career + my life’s journey.