Adrian Wojnarowski, best known as "Woj," the renowned NBA news-breaking columnist and reporter, walked away in September at the age of 55 from a career that many would describe as the pinnacle of success. With an eight-figure salary and an unparalleled reputation, Woj’s choice to leave ESPN and take up the role of General Manager for his alma mater, St. Bonaventure’s basketball program, sparked admiration, curiosity, and questioning. While his decision was initially framed as “time isn't in endless supply, and I want to spend mine in ways that are personally meaningful,” new revelations—including a prostate cancer diagnosis in February—added a fragility and deeper perspective to this decision.

Cancer didn’t force him out, Woj insists. But it did bring clarity. “I didn’t want to spend one more day of my life waiting on someone’s MRI or hitting an agent at 1 a.m. about an ankle sprain,” he says.

For us as leaders, coaches, executives, decision-makers, and anyone navigating the intersection of career ambition and personal fulfillment, Woj’s decision offers profound, timely, and timeless lessons.

Among the many reflections and tributes to his decision, two recent anecdotes from Sports Illustrated’s Chris Mannix, a friend of Woj, stand out as powerful reminders of what it means to live a life of impact, humility, and servant leadership.

"The Job Isn’t Everything"

In May, Woj attended the memorial for Chris Mortensen, the legendary NFL insider and ESPN journalist who passed away from throat cancer. Reflecting on the memorial, Woj shared a striking realization: “The job isn’t everything. In the end, it’s just going to be your family and close friends. And it’s also, like, nobody gives a s---. Nobody remembers [breaking stories] in the end. It’s just vapor.”

This realization, prompted by Mortensen’s funeral, speaks to a truth that many of us often overlook in the pursuit of chasing greatness and what’s next. The accolades, the deals closed, the titles earned—while significant in the moment—fade into obscurity over time. What remains are the relationships we nurture, the lives we touch, and the gift of kindness and connection we leave behind.

For Wojnarowski, this clarity came as he contemplated his own mortality and observed the transient nature of professional achievements. But Woj’s insight challenges us to ask:

"Everybody’s Job Is Everybody’s Job"

Late one evening, after returning to the St. Bonaventure gym, Woj noticed two players practicing—one with a student manager, the other alone. Inspired by advice from Clippers president Lawrence Frank that “everybody’s job is everybody’s job,” Woj dropped his bag and began rebounding balls for the players. He reflected, “We’re here to serve these guys. That’s the job.”

Woj has embraced a leadership philosophy rooted in service, which he credits to his education at St. Bonaventure. Servant leadership requires humility, presence, and a willingness to engage at the most basic level—whether that’s rebounding basketballs or mentoring a struggling team member.

For us as leaders, this anecdote is a reminder that the most impactful work often lies not in grand gestures but in small, meaningful acts of service.

As Woj’s journey shows, it’s never too late to recalibrate. The courage to walk away from what no longer aligns with our purpose and the humility to embrace roles of service can transform not only our careers but also our lives.

As the year comes to an end and we prepare for the days in 2025, we have the unique opportunity to reassess our priorities and why we are doing what we are doing. Whether or not we experience a life-changing diagnosis that puts things into greater clarity, the reality is our time to live, lead, love, and experience this journey called life is finite, precious, and limited.

So ask yourself:

Woj’s reflections on Mortensen’s funeral and his recent late-night gym moment reveal a powerful truth: Leadership is not about the headlines we create but the lives we impact and transform.

In the end, it’s not the stories we break that define us—it’s the stories we help others write. Woj’s story invites us all to consider the kind of lives we’re building and the lives we are leading with the time that we have left.

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