Well, that did not take long… My rabid readers will be keenly aware that my intention is to be in some form of educational program for the rest of my life. 

Starting in the spring term I will be starting a Master of Science in Sports Marketing and Media.

Why another Masters Degree? 

As many of you know, my wife Michele and I own Mushing Magazine and its related properties and I am an active member of the Outdoor Writers Association of America and wanted to find a project that could advance my knowledge in this area and better serve our clients with the most up to date techniques and academic literature to support that mission. 

Besides, I just love challenging myself in the academic environment and conducting research projects and diving deep into academic writing. 

What does the Master of Science in Sports Marketing and Media look like?

I am starting off in the first course, BUSI 520 Strategic Marketing Management and following that up later in the first term with MRKT 640 Consumer Behavior. 

Other courses in the program will include: 

• BUSI 612 Marketing Promotions 
• BUSI 613 Supply Chain Management 
• BUSI 614 Marketing Research 
• MRKT 600 Applied Market Research
• MRKT 640 Consumer Behavior 
• MRKT 661 Ethical & Legal Issues in Marketing 
• MRKT 670 Brand Management 
• MRKT 690 Marketing Strategy Capstone
• SMGT 502 Sport Marketing & Public Relations 
• SMGT 506 Economics & Financial Management of Sport
• SMGT 632 Sport Development & Sales

I already have two of the latter courses done since they are a part of my original Masters program. 

I am most excited about the capstone project which is an integration of the concepts, techniques, and knowledge of the marketing core concepts and I will analyze and develop comprehensive marketing strategies.

I am already thinking of a way to kick off a big project for this capstone. 

How Will You Use the Master of Science in Sports Marketing Right Away? 

Michele got me a book for Christmas called Ideaflow (2022) which I am devouring. It is the first non-academic book I have read since I started school in 2014. I am utilizing the key concepts in the book to develop a mindset around idea generation and workflows and I plan to use this as well as what I learn in the course-work to better understand and service our customers and clients, particularly in our MUSHING business. I look forward to learning about marketing research, consumer and behavior and brand management.

For years I have thought I was pretty good at marketing and advertising and it has worked well in developing a six-figure dog training business but there is so much to learn! 

What is Up First? 

Well, like I did (almost) every week, I will update my struggles, triumphs and tribulations as I move through the program. I hear at least once a week from someone that my blog has helped them in some way.

I will update or tag them by course number (ie. BUSI 520 etc.)

Further, stay tuned for a very big project for MUSHING that we are calling 24 Hours of Iditarod that will be done in Nome in March. 

I will also be attending several conferences with a deliberate focus on this new venture including:

• Podcast Movement in Dallas, Texas 
• The Outdoor Media Summit
• The OWAA conference Chattanooga, TN
• The Niche Media conference in Las Vegas, NV
• The Association of Outdoor Recreation and Eduction conference in San Diego, CA. 

I don’t know if I will spend a full day every week sipping on a single Starbucks coffee as I write amongst the din of noise and commotion like I did the last two degrees, but we will see. It is going to be a fun year!