Men At Work – Effortlessly Cool Men in Cool Jobs
Article by Maria Dinoia
Photography by Provided
Originally published in Franklin Lifestyle
What makes a job ‘cool’? A subjective question with probably 100 different answers. For the purposes of this article, we’ll define a cool job as one that provides a fun topic of conversation. Almost everyone enjoys discussing fascinating, adventurous, out-of-the-ordinary, or impactful careers. These five men in cool jobs were all asked the same question: What advice would you give to people wanting to get started in your {respective} business?
Nick Barnowski, Communications Manager, Nashville Predators
“It’s a cliché, but it’s one for a reason – diversifying your skillset and comfort zone can take you a long way, especially in professional sports. With PR, social media, reporting, digital media, marketing and so much more, there are almost always opportunities to chase, so see what you like doing and run with it. It’s as competitive an industry as any, but the people in it are willing to help; once you make those connections, follow up with tangible examples of what you are doing to get to where you want to be. Learning AP Style and the Adobe products will be a big-time help also!”
Michael Stainbrook, co-founder of Franklin Distillery
“First and foremost, follow your passion and share your brand’s authentic story. You can’t underestimate the amount of investment, not just monetary, but with personal hard work and sacrifice that it takes to launch a brand successfully, and the genuine passion that you have for your product that will carry you through the hard times.”
Michael Ward, co-founder of Franklin Distillery
“Surround yourself with as many smart people and industry experts as you can and ask as many questions as you can. This industry, and especially this town, is unbelievably supportive. I am continually blown away by the encouragement and insight we get from other businesses in this industry. Those that most people would consider to be our competition have actually become close friends and confidants, and their support and mentorship has been priceless to us.”
Adam English, Chief Operating Officer and General Manager, Nashville Sounds
“I would encourage anyone trying to break into the sports industry to relentlessly follow your passion. Lots of people have a passion for sports. Know why and where you want a career in it and follow that passion. The business side of the sport is different from playing the sport. It might be creating fans for life, helping people make lasting memories, or just having a passion for building relationships, but do the research to know how your unique skills can add value to an organization. Then go prove it.”
Danny Orton, Songwriter (Rascal Flatts, Dan + Shay, Tim McGraw, Chicago, Lady Antebellum, Reba McEntire, Wynonna and many more)
“You should ask yourself: ‘Do I “want” to do this or do I “need” to do this? It kinda picks you. It’s a very tough business to break in to. If you do get in and are having hits on the radio, it’s awesome!! If you’re not, it’s scary. The smartest advice I can probably give is to have a Plan B. That being said, we moved here in 1994 with no jobs … and no Plan B. But I can’t imagine doing anything else.”
