Gary Vitti
Los Angeles Lakers
Los Angeles, CA USA
"If you don't have a passion, find one. The world is one big puzzle, and you've gotta find where you fit into it."
Career Roadmap
Gary's work combines: Medicine, Sports, and Working with Others
See more careers and stories that connect to your interests.
Take Roadmap Quiz
Day In The Life
Skills &
Education
Advice for getting started
Network and make connections that matter. Find the people that have made it and that have come from a similar situation as you and use their advice, insight, and experience to help yourself succeed. Volunteer in your free time and put yourself out there.
Here's the path I took:
High School
Bachelor's Degree
Southern Connecticut State University
Graduate Degree
Sports Medicine Residency Program
University of Utah
Life & Career Milestones
My path in life took a while to figure out
1.
He originally chose to get his bachelor's degree in meteorology, because he'd heard it was an occupation with a "big upside."
2.
After three years, he realized he had no passion for meteorology; one of his friends recommended that he go into sports medicine.
3.
The athletic training program at the University of Utah was already full, but the head trainer agreed to let Gary audit his classes.
4.
The head trainer quickly realized that Gary was more dedicated to the program than any of his students and got him into the sports medicine program.
5.
By a stroke of luck, the New Orleans Jazz relocated to Salt Lake City; Gary started working for them part-time while finishing his master's degree.
6.
All the while, he was making contacts within the industry, so in 1984, when the Lakers' head training job opened up, his name was at the top of the list.
7.
Says that by working hard, always following his heart, and never settling, he positioned himself to take fortuitous opportunities.
8.
Believes that the key to pursuing your passion is always keeping a short-term goal, a mid-term goal, and a long-term goal.
Defining Moments
How I responded to discouragement
THE NOISE
Messages from Myself:
Once I get to a particular point in my life, then I'll be happy.
How I responded:
I had to realize that by constantly waiting for the next thing, I was never going to be truly happy. You have to be grateful for what you have and not hang your happiness on the next thing.
Experiences and challenges that shaped me
My parents immigrated to the US from Italy. My father worked as a laborer and even though there was food on the table and love in the house, it was tough.