When Tony Dungy came to ESPN in August 2010, he was promoting his second book, The Mentor Leader. Coach Dungy, the first African American head football coach to win a Super Bowl, had retired a year and a half before. His book was highly anticipated, as his first book, Quiet Strength, had topped the New York Times best- seller list right after the Colts won the Super Bowl in 2007.

I was excited to spend the day with Coach Dungy not only because of his book but also, on a personal level, because he was a man of deep faith. As an ESPN talent producer at the time, whose job was not only to book guests but also to take care of them throughout the day and guide them around ESPN to their differ- ent show appearances, I always looked forward to spending the day with a person of faith. This common ground often opened up the gates to deep conversation about life and purpose.

That’s exactly what happened.

And it changed my life.

Joining Coach Dungy that day was a small entourage: his coauthor, Nathan; his publicist, Todd; and his assistant, Jessica, whom I knew relatively well because we had worked on a couple projects together in the past. After Coach Dungy appeared on Mike & Mike early that morning, we were all in the green room getting ready for the next show. Jessica struck up a conversation with me about faith and life. Coach Dungy overheard us talking, and Jessica mentioned to him that I was a Christian too. That’s when he asked me a question that would change things moving forward: “Jason, how do you live out your faith here at ESPN?”

Truthfully, when he asked that question, I had been experiencing a lot of doubt in my life about whether or not I should be at ESPN. I know that must sound crazy, considering I was working at the “Worldwide Leader in Sports” as a massive sports fan, per- forming a job each day that I absolutely loved. I can’t even say that working at ESPN was my dream job, because the truth is that work- ing at ESPN was beyond my wildest dreams. But since becoming a Christian nine years before, I had slowly begun to wonder if I was meant to work elsewhere. I felt like I was letting God down by working at a place like ESPN and thought that perhaps I needed to be at a church or ministry in order to truly serve him. I saw other people who seemed to be having more of an impact for the kingdom than I was. Out of my pride, I would often compare myself to others who seemed to be serving God more. I was struggling to wear the uniform I had when I thought maybe I was supposed to be on a different team. I was losing focus.

Overall, my life was compartmentalized. My faith was in one box, work was in another, being a husband was in another, and being a father was in yet another. If I was really going to live out my faith, shouldn’t I work at a place that is about faith?

What I didn’t consider at the time was that the man who asked me the question had lived out his faith for decades in the NFL and was now living it out in the sphere of broadcasting.

After thinking about Coach Dungy’s question, I honestly said to him, “My faith is so important to me that sometimes I feel like I shouldn’t even be working here. I feel like I should be working for a sports ministry like Sports Spectrum or FCA or AIA.”

My response hung in the air.

That’s when Jessica stepped between Coach and I and, with a stern look on her face and her hands on her hips, like a mother might look at her son who was late for dinner, she stared me down.

“What?” I asked, looking at Jessica.
“You don’t get it,” she said.
“Get what?”
“You don’t get it,” she said again.
“Okay,” I replied, “what is it that I don’t get?”

“Look at where you are,” she said. “Look at the mission field here at ESPN. Look at the people you are impacting and those you will impact in the future. You need to understand that where you are, right here, right now, you are to bloom where you are planted. Until God calls you away—and he’ll make it clear when it’s time to leave—you can be a light right here where you are at ESPN.”

Though Coach Dungy’s question changed my life, it was Jessica’s response that met me where I was. Coach’s question opened up the space for Jessica to step in and speak truth into my current situation. Her wisdom and boldness changed everything and sent me on a new path moving forward. A path that was more integrated and less compartmentalized. A path that was more expansive and less narrow. Thanks to Jessica, I realized that “Christian” and “ESPN employee” didn’t have to be in two separate boxes. I could be a Christian ESPN employee, just as I could be a Christian husband and a Christian father and a Christian elder at church. I could be who I was, where I was, for others. I realized that I had neglected one of life’s most fundamental truths: it’s about relationships.

Jessica was right: Life was about thriving in the place God had put me. It was about being a team—willingly putting on the uni- form (even if it’s uncomfortable) and playing the role the coach had given me (even if that position is backup to the backup) until God opened the door for the next stage of my journey. The truths she shared helped re-center me for the next seven years. I continually reminded myself of the importance of accepting my team assignment: To build relationships with the people around me. To serve those I got to work beside. To let my light shine wherever I was.

Jessica reminded me of my identity, which rooted me in the present, which allowed me to think more about doing the best job I could rather than worrying about whether I was in the right place. She sent me on a journey of awakening to what it means to be the best me wherever I happen to be. That day was a catalyst that sparked difficult questions about leadership. How could I, instead of always focusing on the destination, lead people and be there for them right where I was?

I began to savor the little moments throughout the day that I shared with my coworkers. I became intentional in my conversations with those around me, investing in them beyond the workplace and allow- ing them to invest in me. I grew more outward-focused, more aware of people’s needs rather than just my career. I became more present. 

* This is an excerpt from “The Uniform of Leadership: Lessons on True Success from My ESPN Life” by Jason Romano

Jason Romano is the host and producer of the Sports Spectrum podcast where he interviews athletes, coaches, and other personalities on the intersection of sports and faith. Previously he was a Senior Producer at ESPN for 18 years.