Success Through Summer Softball? by Zac Shaffer
No matter who you talk to about advancing your career, one of the main focuses will always be on networking. We’ve all heard the old adage “its not what you know, but who you know”. Regardless of whether you are in the beginning stages of your career or in your prime, this saying will always run true. But, the secret to true success in networking is finding a balance of work and pleasure. And, after a long week, there aren’t many better feelings than swinging your heart out at a big yellow ball.
One of the best networking and career building experiences I have had the pleasure of participating in is the Toledo Summer Softball League. I first participated in this league in my first year of law school. I was clerking for a firm who just needed bodies to fill their team. Following my first year playing, I used the connections I made to restart a team with my fellow law students at the University of Toledo. For a first-generation law aspiring attorney, I wasn’t fortunate enough to have a network of people in the profession to help me. This league was my first real networking experience.
Fast-forward to the present, I am not only still involved, but I am the commissioner of the league. For some, the league is a way to stay involved in the community, for others it is a way to feel like we are 18 again (only to pull a hamstring sprinting the bases and realizing we are not). My experience in the league, however, changed the course of my career. From being an active member of the Toledo Bar Association to shamelessly performing “Single Ladies” like Beyonce at the Jr. Bar Gridiron Show, being involved in this softball league is one of the main reasons I am currently where I am at.
Whether you are looking for new ways to build your practice, build your name, or new things to do during the summer, this league is for you. You don’t need to be a star athlete or even hand-eye coordination. You are welcome to come out and play! One of my favorite experiences being involved in the league has been meeting and building personal relationships with other attorneys in the community. The league plays every summer beginning in June and extends through August. If you are interested in playing, don’t hesitate to reach out as it is an experience you truly don’t want to miss.
And, who knows, if your experience is like mine, you may open the door to new beginnings and a career path you never expected!
