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Retirement Wisdom

Retire Smarter

From the NBA Hardwood to the Altar – Steve Javie

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The best midlife transitions are not linear or predictable. You find your calling or life’s mission in different ways. The paths are winding. Unexpected events serve as catalysts to redirect you in ways you could not have imagined earlier in life.

The story of Steve Javie’s journey to find his life’s mission is remarkable.  And while his particular path or religion may not be relevant to you, his lessons learned just might be helpful in your unique midlife transition.

Bio 

A highly regarded referee in the National Basketball Association for 25 years, Steve Javie officiated 1,514 regular-season games, 243 playoff games, and 23 NBA Finals games, from the 1986-87 season to the 2010-11 season. Highly respected for his game management skills, Javie was also a Crew Chief for 22 years. During his career, he was a board member of the National Basketball Referees Association and a key contract negotiator.

Steve retired from the NBA in 2011 – and in 2012 began a seven-year course of study — in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia to become a Deacon in the Catholic Church. He was ordained on June 8th, 2019, and serves as an ordained Deacon at St. Andrew’s Catholic Church in Newtown, Pennsylvania. In addition, Steve Javie works with ABC & ESPN as a basketball analyst where you’ll see him in the weeks ahead as the NBA season resumes.

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Wise Quotes

 

On Taking Time With Transitions

“The advice I would give somebody who is retiring is it takes some time, some quiet time. First of all, number one, since you’ve probably been working for a number of years, don’t jump into something right away too quickly. Take that quiet time. Get that adjustment period to get to know your wife again, your family again, if you have any children at home. If not, maybe get to know that person who’s put up with us all these years and are [also] working. And don’t jump right into another phone call because your ego says, ‘Hey, you know,  this company wants me or that company wants me to be a consultant or they’re going to pay me this’ I think we deserve it to just sit back and relax. And I think within six months to a year or whatever it may be, I think then you can say, you know what, I’m ready to maybe do something.”
On The Importance of Mentors … and Learning from Mistakes
“I really believe that having great mentors is what it takes to be a successful official. One of the reasons …I learned this at an early age and I preached this a lot when I speak to younger officials at the high school level, you really have to be objective with yourself. You really have to be able to look at these game films…and be objective. “I missed this call” – it’s the hardest thing in the world to do for humans. You really have to admit your mistakes to be able to do that. Because I think, once you make your mistake, then you find out the big question you always say, when you make a mistake, (when watching video) is, ‘Why, why did I make that mistake? Why did I blow the whistle? Or why didn’t I blow the whistle? And I think if you can get to that point of admitting your mistake, swallowing your pride and saying, Okay, why did I do this wrong? Well, how can I improve? Was my positioning this way? Did I guess, did I have an open look on the play? There’s so many questions you have to ask yourself. As I tell every young referee, be objective, admit your mistakes…But I can just relate it to everyday life too. I think it’s really kind of cool that we can, as human beings, at times admit our mistakes. And it makes things a lot easier.”
On Faith

“I just tell everybody, just to challenge yourself, to go outside your comfort zone and go a little deeper and you won’t be disappointed.”

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Related Podcast Episodes

Retirement Planning Includes Getting Good at Getting Older – Rabbi Laura Geller

With the Freedom to Retire, Where Will You Plant Your New Tree? – Don Ezra

Take the Detour – A Second Act Career Story – Melissa Davey

 

Related Book Review

Answering Your Call: A Guide for Living Your Deepest Purpose

 

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