TMC PULSE

t m c » p u l s e | s e p t e m b e r 2 0 1 5 29 IMAGE-GUIDED THERAPIES Opportunities for a Translational Approach Across Disciplines 2 ND ANNUAL October 2-3, 2015 Houston Methodist Research Institute 6670 Bertner Ave., Houston, TX 77030 This live activity has been approved for AMA PRA Category 1 Credit TM . Areas of focus: • Diseases of the central nervous system, as well as the head and neck area • Thoracic, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal and gynecological disease processes • Controlling disease processes at the molecular level with emphasis on DNA damage and repair, and potential immunological strategies events.houstonmethodist.org/image-guided Q | JJ Watt has become a global icon. What is his impact on the Texans' brand? A | JJ has what I call a '360 degree perspective' on what it means to be a star athlete. He recognizes what all of his opportunities and obligations are and he lives up to very high expectations. I've been around athletes for a long, long time. In terms of that 360 view, I don't think I've been around someone more exceptional than JJ. And the great thing about it for the team is as he gets exposure, they're talking about JJ Watt, but he's JJ Watt the Houston Texan. So there is certainly a halo for our brand and he sets a great example for others. Q | Looking back on your career, what are some of the key decisions that led you to where you are today? A | Early on, I was all about sports and competition. I wanted to play in the World Cup. I got to Clemson my freshman year and we had a very good team and we wound up being national champions, but I was having a hard time getting on the field. I'd never experienced that before. It was a shock. I'd been the top player on every team I had played on. One day during my first semester, I went to get my mail and there was this note from the dean that said I was on the dean's list. I called my mom and said, 'The dean knows who I am!' I'd never really thought outside of sports. I went to school because I had to. I started to appreciate that there's another world out there beyond sports. The challenges I faced on the field caused me to think differently, so I really started to apply myself academically and wound up as an honors student in the Calhoun Honors College. I started getting involved on campus with a number of different groups and eventually wound up being student body president. I realized that there is more to life than playing sports. When I went to IBM, I knew it wasn't right. Everyone was looking at me going, 'What are you doing leaving this job? Nobody leaves IBM.' I had so many people sit down with me and say, 'Have you really thought through this?' I just said, 'I have this calling. I want to be involved in sports in some way and I'm not getting there here.' So I traveled across the country doing informational interviews in the sports field. I also applied to graduate schools and wound up going to Indiana. When I finally got my opportunity, I seized it. When people talk to me about wanting to get into the sports industry, I tell them to check their heart. How into it are you? Are you prepared to shove all the chips to the middle of table and just stay at it as long as you have to? If you are, it will work. It may be one month, and it may be 10 years. But you have to be all in to make it happen. Q | Is there anything else you care to share? A | I've been fortunate to work for two great men in the sports world. I first worked for Lamar Hunt, a member of three separate sports halls of fame. He was a mentor to me coming into this business. He was a wonderful man and a hero of mine. I have also worked for Bob McNair. I must have a lucky star because Bob McNair is cut from the same cloth as Lamar. He is a great community citizen, a committed family man and a wonderful leader. He puts us in a position to win and says, 'Go make it happen.' I can tell you from my eyewitness account, Bob McNair is one of the greatest sports owners there's ever been. He and his family are outstanding stewards of this community asset.

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