Career Day at the local high school is always fun. It is a chance for professionals from various fields to inspire the next generation. One year in the 1990s, I was invited to speak about my entertaining real estate career at my alma mater, and I eagerly accepted. Little did I know, I’d be following a legend.

As I walked into the classroom, the energy in the air was palpable. Students were buzzing with excitement. They had been listening to presentations from doctors, engineers, and entrepreneurs. I felt confident, ready to share the ins and outs of managing a bustling real estate office.

Then I saw him—Mark Tuinei, Dallas Cowboys offensive lineman and three-time Super Bowl champion. He was there, towering over the crowd, his Super Bowl rings glinting under the fluorescent lights. Student’s eyes were wide with awe as he recounted tales from his NFL days. His presentation was dynamic, filled with stories of perseverance, teamwork, and the thrill of victory.

I was completely screwed. Suddenly, my presentation about handling tenant issues and maintaining properties seemed boring as hell. How could I possibly compete with this?

After Mark wrapped up his presentation to thunderous applause, I took a deep breath. “Good morning, everyone. I’m here to talk to you about property management.” The eye rolls were painful as I explained the importance of maintaining property value and ensuring tenant satisfaction. Even I was bored.

I needed to grab their attention, so I launched into some of my wildest stories, featuring the craziest and grossest events from over the years. I thought I had them hooked with tales of maggots and dead bodies—who wouldn’t be intrigued by that? But nope, I had already lost them.

It was several years before I had the guts to attend Career Day again.