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In this special bonus episode of My Favorite Mistake, our guest (via Cameo) is Gene Steratore, a former NFL and NCAA basketball official known for his calm demeanor, fairness, and expertise on the field and court. With over 15 years as an NFL referee and a longstanding career in NCAA basketball officiating, Steratore became a trusted figure in sports, celebrated for managing high-stakes games, including playoff and Super Bowl matchups. After retiring from officiating, he transitioned to broadcasting as a rules analyst for CBS Sports, where he brings insights on officiating decisions and the human element in sports.
Gene graciously shares his perspective on the importance of learning from mistakes both on and off the field. Gene reflects on the challenges of officiating, where striving for perfection meets the reality of human fallibility. He discusses the humility required to accept imperfection in the moment and the invaluable lessons mistakes provide for honing one's craft.
Beyond sports, Gene explores how these lessons translate to everyday life, emphasizing the importance of self-reflection, resilience, and growth. This episode is a must-listen for anyone looking to embrace the learning journey that comes with making – and learning from – mistakes.
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Automated Transcript (May Contain Mistakes)
Hey Mark, it's Gene Steratore. Thanks for letting me share one of my memories on My Favorite Mistake, the podcast you host about learning from mistakes, right? Naturally, on the field or on the court, there's always a human element, and there's always imperfection. And one of the challenges, quite honestly, when you're an official, is understanding that you're not going to be perfect.
Within that moment, you still strive for perfection, but you also need the humility to accept that every once in a while, it just doesn’t work out that way. I’ve been there as an analyst, on the basketball court, on the football field – sometimes it’s just a passing judgment, a moment that just happened, or maybe a mental lapse. But what I found was that I learned much more from those mistakes in honing my craft. It also carried over into my personal life, because as people, we’re not perfect either.
We might say the wrong thing or do the wrong thing, and hopefully, just like when you’re officiating, those mistakes aren’t repeated. Instead, you learn from them and become a better person as a result. That’s my take on how we honestly learn from our mistakes – it’s an ongoing process. For anyone who’s really striving to be the best they can be, reviewing yourself, recognizing your mistakes, and working to correct them is essential, especially when your mistakes might negatively affect others. It’s the process and the journey that we all love.
So, continue to strive for that, stay humble, and always forgive those who make mistakes that might hurt you in some way.
Take care, Mark. Thanks again for reaching out to me, and God bless you all.