Jason Romano - The Uniform of Leadership: Lessons on True Success from My ESPN Life

A dear friend in the faith, Jason has inspired me, and his desire to serve and love others is why hes one of the best leaders I know. Read this book and implement the lessons in your life. Youll be better for it.

D ARRYL S TRAWBERRY , eight-time MLB all-star

For nearly twenty years, I havent known a more sincere, dedicated, and values-based colleague than Jason Romano. His contributions to the unique culture at ESPN were deep and significant, and his observations in The Uniform of Leadership are striking and profound. Jason takes you behind the scenes at ESPN, sharing private moments with some of the biggest names in sports and television. There is great value in his journey, and Jason shares it generously. I urge you to accept his invitation to come along for the ride.

B OB L EY , Emmy Awardwinning former host of ESPNs Outside the Lines

What I love about Jason is that he knows leadership is a daily choice, something so grounded in consistency that it becomes the root of who one is, in all they do. Jason has turned that leadership into a life of giving, serving, encouraging, helping, challenging, and equipping others to make an impact, to live a life fuller than they ever dreamed. We often try to box in leadership and what it looks and sounds like. Jason opens it up for all of us. I was thrilled to dive into this book, pull stuff out of it, and allow it to become part of my life and legacy.

D ANIEL O RLOVSKY , ESPN analyst and former NFL quarterback

A fantastic read! The lessons Jason shares from his seventeen years at ESPN are applicable for anyone. Whether youre a sports fanatic or a young leader hungry to learn from one of the best, pick up a copy of The Uniform of Leadership.

A DAM W EBER , lead pastor of Embrace Church and author of Love Has a Name

When I think of Jason Romano, I think of a hope broker and an arm lifter. His heartbeat is to help and serve others. This book will show you how to be more like Jesus with timeless leadership lessons and poignant stories from the sports broadcasting mecca that is ESPN.

C LINT H URDLE , former manager of the Colorado Rockies and Pittsburgh Pirates

As a former NFL player who now pastors a church, I appreciate the way Jason Romano intersects the world of sports with his faith in Jesus. This book has wonderful stories taking you inside the walls of ESPN and will encourage you to become a better leader.

D R . D ERWIN G RAY , pastor of Transformation Church and author of The Good Life

The Uniform of Leadership: Lessons on True Success from My ESPN Life

2020 by Jason Romano

Published by Kregel Publications, a division of Kregel Inc., 2450 Oak Industrial Dr. NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49505.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any meanselectronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or otherwisewithout written permission of the publisher, except for brief quotations in reviews.

Distribution of digital editions of this book in any format via the internet or any other means without the publishers written permission or by license agreement is a violation of copyright law and is subject to substantial fines and penalties. Thank you for supporting the authors rights by purchasing only authorized editions.

Stories about persons portrayed in this book have been used with permission.

All photographs have been provided by Jason Romano and permission for use of photographs is the responsibility of the author.

Scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, New International Version, NIV. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com. The NIV and New International Version are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Names: Romano, Jason, author. | Copeland, Stephen (Sports writer), author.

Title: The uniform of leadership : lessons on true success from my ESPN life / Jason Romano with Stephen Copeland ; foreword by Jon Gordon.

Description: Grand Rapids, MI : Kregel Publications, [2020]

Identifiers: LCCN 2020005005 (print) | LCCN 2020005006 (ebook)

Subjects: LCSH: Romano, Jason. | SportscastersUnited StatesBiography. | ESPN, Inc.EmployeesBiography. | LeadershipUnited States.

Classification: LCC GV742.42.R53 A3 2020 (print) | LCC GV742.42.R53 (ebook) | DDC 070.4/49796092 [B]--dc23

LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2020005005

LC ebook record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2020005006

ISBN 978-0-8254-4639-9, print

ISBN 978-0-8254-7726-3, epub

Printed in the United States of America

20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 / 5 4 3 2 1

J ASON R OMANO IS ONE OF the best people I know, and Im so excited for you to read this fresh take on timeless leadership lessons. In 2014, Jason and I connected on social media, and a year later he called me and shared his desire to do more purposeful work. I began to keep an eye on him and saw the impact he was making at the biggest sports media company in the world. I also watched as he made the leap from ESPN to a new opportunity that allowed him to expand his leadership platform and reach more people with his media expertise and broadcasting gifts and talents. Jasons unique way of living out his faith at ESPN, and now at his current job at Sports Spectrum, is empowering and inspiring. I discovered that wherever Jason goes, he influences others and makes the people around him better. He is a true servant-leader who loves and gives to others. Thats who Jason is and that is what this book is all about.

In my time with Jason at various conferences, Ive been impressed with his desire to share his story in a transparent and humble way. He tells his story in order to help you create a better story with your life. He shares his pain with a purpose, to help you grow, and he shares his wisdom, lessons, and experiences to help you make better decisions. Ive spent time with thousands of companies, leaders, coaches, athletes, and teams, and this book is going to be a game changer in the locker room and in the boardroom. A lot of times, writers will share principles that they dont actually live. Thats not the case with Jason and this book. In The Uniform of Leadership, he shares the principles he lives and how they can help you in your life and career. This book is one that youll want to read, take notes on, and then give to someone else. It encouraged me, and I know it will encourage you as well. But dont just read it. Make sure you take action so the words on the page will help you create the life and career that you want.

J ON G ORDON ,

best-selling author of The Power of Positive Leadership and The Carpenter

I LEARNED A LOT DURING my seventeen years working at ESPN. About journalism and media. About business and sports. But also about leadership, faith, and, ultimately, what true success really means in a world where peoples definition of success has become convoluted with ego, materialism, and perception.

As much as I grew vocationally and professionally at ESPN, learning the ins and outs of the sports media industry, I also grew a lot personally. And, since Im a man of faith, there were many days there that impacted me on a deep, interior, soul level. Days that touched me emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. Days that inspired me to be a better father, husband, leader, and friend. Days where it felt like God was using an experience with a guest or a boss or a cafeteria lady or a colleague to meet me where I was in my own struggles in life. Simply put, my experiences during my seventeen years at ESPN largely made me into the man, husband, and father I am today. It was there that I learned how to be a leader. It was there that I developed and evolved, confronted my insecurities and immaturity, and learned how to manage my ego and awaken my soul. As you know, personal development and evolution is a lifelong journey, but it was my time at ESPN that started me on that journey and inspired me to lead.