Rami's Monthly Sports Digest Edition 6

Whatttt is up everybody — I’m Rami, and this is the 6th edition of Rami’s Monthly Sports Digest.

Six already! That is kinda wild. The last two months have been a blur in the best way. I wrapped up pledging Alpha Kappa Psi, a business fraternity at UNC (shoutout the PC), bounced around college football Saturdays in North Carolina and Michigan, and spent a lot of time doing what I love most, meeting people who are building the sports world from the inside. With a new city, new people, new spaces. Moving across the country forced me to rebuild my life from scratch: different people, different classrooms, different vibes. Somewhere between studying late, having a good time, and a bunch of coffee chats, I realized how much these little moments and lessons add up.

So this edition is a switch-up. Instead of a traditional sports-business breakdown, I’m sharing “5 Things I Learned in 5 Minutes.” I want to do this because I want to truly connect with you guys. These are quick things I’ve pulled from conversations, interviews, coffee chats, wins, Ls, and the everyday moments that don’t make headlines but change your life. If you like this, I’ll keep a mini version in future editions alongside the usual Rami’s Sports Corner material. So please subscribe, feel free to send me a note, and I can’t wait for you to read the 6th Edition of Rami’s Monthly Sports Digest.

Thanks for sticking with me after a short break. I'm so glad you’re here. Let's do it!

5 Things I Learned in 5 Minutes

1) Being uncomfortable is a green flag

The last two months shoved me into rooms I didn’t “feel ready” for. With new orgs, new faces, new expectations and an entirely new school. Lonely nights alone, club meetings with people I don't know, no family here to be with me. Cold messages that made me re-read them 10 times because I was not getting responses. Showing up to events solo and figuring it out in real time. Every time I felt that little jolt of awkwardness, something good followed: a connection I wouldn’t have made, a skill I wouldn’t have practiced, a door I didn’t know existed.

What helped:

• I stopped waiting for “the big chance” or what I used to call luck that something was going to magically fall into my lap and stacked small ones: ask a question, introduced myself, volunteer for an event, send the follow-up.

• Recently I have started journaling, and after anything uncomfortable happens, I write one line: what did I take out of being in that uncomfortable situation and what will I do again because of it. That single line builds.

Your turn to reflect. Yes you: What’s one thing you’ve avoided because it feels awkward or intimidating? Give yourself a 24-hour rule. Take one step and go after it now. Don't say NO, which leads me to my next thing I've learned.

2) Say yes

The best stuff lately started with “yes.” A quick coffee became a real relationship. A last-minute event turned into three new intros. A small project became a bigger opportunity. I’m not saying yes to burnout; I’m saying yes when the upside is learning, people, or honestly just reps.

How I’m thinking about it:

• No protects your calendar today; “yes” builds options for you in the future.

• I also keep a small yes budget. I’m not saying yes if your buddy asks you to drive across the country but say yes to things that could benefit you.

• If I can’t do the whole thing, I’ll offer a piece you don't have to do it all, but at least try to do a slice of the yes.

Reflection time: Do you default to “no” because of time, cost, or uncertainty? What’s one low-risk, high-upside thing you can say yes to this week?

3) Southern hospitality is special

Moving to Chapel Hill taught me how far simple gestures travel. Smiling at someone on campus. Holding the door and WAITING. Thanking the bus driver. It sounds tiny, but it changes conversations and opens paths. In networking terms, hospitality is a signal it shows people you’re safe to talk to and good to work with. In team terms, it creates collaboration: people want to help people who make rooms lighter.

What I’m practicing:

• Genuine first. “How’s your week going?” and actually listening NOT staring past conversation or just saying it to be nice but ACTUALLY listening.

• Credit out loud. Shouting out people and making people feel good in group settings.

• Small kindness, daily. One intentional act a day.

Mini-challenge for yall instead of a reflection: Do one act of “southern hospitality” every day this week. See what changes.

4) Fail proudly, learn quickly

I’ve taken so much Ls in the past 2 months it's absurd. It stings, but you can either take the L like the worst team in the NFL or you can bounce back and grow.

1. Attempt whatever it is even if you think you aren't going to succeed or have no experience JUST DO IT!

2. Note what worked / what didn’t

3. Tweak one/two things that need to be better

4. Re-attempt as soon as you can

Two things I learned fast:

• Silence does not = failure; it’s a data point. Change, adapt and try again.

• Turn every ‘no’ into notes. The more failure you endure, the more things you can take from it.

Reflect: What’s a recent L you took? Name one tweak you’ll carry into the next rep and make sure you put that in your calendar to do.

5) The most important relationship is with yourself

The last few months put me in a weird in-between space but mostly being alone a lot. I realized the one person I can’t escape is me.Being alone used to feel like a red flag or scary. Now I’m learning it can be the calm in your life. Late night walks alone on campus, alone studying in the library, eating alone after a hard day—those moments helped me process everything I’ve been going through instead of just numbing it out. The more I started to learn to love myself and alone time the easier it has been to show up in every other relationship.

What I’m practicing:

• Checking in, not checking out. Genuinely ask yourself every day how you are doing.

• Talking to myself like I’d talk to a friend. Would I say this to someone I care about? Because if not no need to say it to yourself.

• Keeping small promises. Do whatever you need and have to do. Don't let yourself not.

Reflect: Take the time this week and do something by yourself and for yourself. Eat alone, Walk alone, Anything alone

Conclusion

Now, I know this wasn’t classic Rami’s Sports Corner material. I wasn’t breaking down the latest sports trend or talking about how electric the last two months have been in sports, so if this wasn’t your favorite edition I get it and I am sorry. I’m not a philosopher, I definitely don’t have life figured out, I’ve got plenty of flaws, I struggle a lot, and I’ve messed up more than I’d like to admit these past two months. This isn’t “take my advice and run with it,” it’s just me getting personal and sharing a few things I’m learning in real time, so you can get to know me on a deeper level beyond media deals and sports headlines

So with that being said, thank you for tuning in to the 6th edition of Rami’s Monthly Sports Digest. I can’t wait to be back in December for Edition 7. I hope you guys have an amazing thanksgiving with the people you love. My name is Rami Fakih. Thank you for rocking with me and I’ll catch you in the next one.