Versatility is an Asset
by Oliver Carlos
I was looking for job in early 2008. One thought that came to my mind was to follow my heart- find a job related to my passion, basketball. I auditioned to be a TV host at BTV, which was under Solar Sports. I didn’t make it. The job went to Bobby Yan. But after my spiel in front of the camera, somebody grabbed my arm and led me to another room to take a written exam. That was how I met Noel Zarate, one of the most respected TV executive, sportscaster and sportswriter in the country.
We were three wanna-bes who took the test. The exam was tough. It had 100 questions from all sports, about their rules, records, tournaments, personalities, and current events. After taking the test, Noel checked them right away and discussed the results to us. He said that I was good, but not good enough. I got all the basketball questions correctly, but not the ones about the other sports.
Noel then asked me who my role model was, my favorite broadcaster who I wanted to be like. I said “Quinito Henson”. He said, “Matagal pa magreretire yun”. He explained to me that I should not focus on basketball alone, but I have to learn as many sports as I can. He then asked me the clincher question, “What if I hire you and send you to the SEA Games to cover a sport that is not basketball, because basketball already belongs to Quinito? Would you be able to deliver?” That got me thinking. That’s the greatest lesson I got from the man who would later mentor me hands-on, a decade later.
Our paths crossed again in 2018 when I attended Noel’s broadcasting academy. I learned tons and tons of knowledge on the sportscasting industry that I would never get from school. I met people who were established personalities is the trade, as well as fellow newbies like me. I was able to establish networks that provided me exposure and experience in the field. What I observed in all of these people I met were that they were versatile. They were experts in multiple sports.
A year after I graduated, I found myself in the 2019 SEA Games. I was part of the media team, the only member of the crew who held a microphone on site. I was the voice of the Binan Stadium. For 2 weeks, I was the announcer for all the football games held in that venue.
What happened in between 2008 and 2019? I took to heart Noel’s advise. I did my best learning other sports, one of which is football. My son Jethro got me into it. I was Jethro’s constant companion as he played 6 years of UAAP football for UST, from 2013 to 2019. I was practically there in every training, in every tournament, and in every game of the boys in gold. I learned the ins and outs of the sport by my daily observations and conversations with my son and with the football people around him. I was able to build VERSATILITY. After several years, I’m not just a basketball-only person, I have grown to be a football guy too. So when the SEA Games call up came, I was ready for it.
Versatility is indeed an asset. This principle applies not only in sportscasting, but in also in almost everything. The more tasks you can do in the office, the better employee you become. The more subjects you can teach, the more load you will get. The more skills you have, the more job opportunities you can enter.
The apostle Paul also gave the same advice to the Corinthian Christians. He said in 1 Corinthians 9:22 (NLV):
“…. I have become like every person so in every way I might lead some to Christ.”
Paul’s job of sharing the Gospel becomes more effective when he shares a common ground with the people he met. To the Jews, he used his Jewish roots to relate to them. To the Romans, he mentioned about his Roman citizenship.
Paul was also a tentmaker, a craftsman and businessman who manufactured and sold tents. He’s also a frequent traveler. He’s also highly educated. I believe he was able to strike engaging conversations with common people in the marketplaces as well as intellectuals everywhere in ancient Greece and elsewhere in the Roman Empire. He was Mr. Versatility. And with his versatility, he was able to lead so many people to Christ, to be saved and do God’s will.
My dear friend, whatever field you are in, try to build your versatility. One day you will see its value and appreciate it. When that day comes, don’t forget to use it to do God’s will.
