I recently spoke to Dr. Marc Matarazzo. Marc has served as the Assistant Team Physician for the New York Jets, the New York Islanders, and the Hofstra University and Hunter College Athletic Departments.

Adam: Thanks again for taking the time to share your advice. First things first, though, I am sure readers would love to learn more about you. How did you get here? What experiences, failures, setbacks, or challenges have been most instrumental to your growth?

Marc: When I was a sophomore in high school, I played football and suffered a meniscus injury. Two years later as a senior, I tore my meniscus again and the injury and recovery process inspired me to become an orthopedic sports medicine specialist. Thanks to great medical care, I was able to come back from my injuries and went on to play collegiate rugby for Vanderbilt University.

Adam: What are your favorite memories and best stories from time working for the Jets?

Marc: I turned down a job offer with my hometown Philadelphia Eagles for the chance to work in the Big Apple with the Jets and one of the best stories is the time I was left behind in Oakland after a Monday Night Game against the Raiders. A trainer suffered a diabetic-related seizure on the bus ride back to the plane and I was assigned to accompany him to the hospital, make sure he was okay and then, travel home with him the following day. 

Adam: What were the best lessons you learned from your time with the Jets?

Marc: Working with an NFL team is a unique experience and one of the things you learn early on is maintaining enthusiasm despite the hardships. Part of success is remaining committed to excellence throughout the impediments you face. 

Adam: Who were the best leaders you were around and what did you learn from them?

Marc: When I was in seventh grade, I had a Latin and Ancient Greek instructor. He was British, in his seventies and a former professional golfer. He was tremendously passionate about teaching Latin and Greek and did so in a way that made it glorified and venerated yet pertinent and enjoyable.

Adam: In your experience, what are the defining qualities of an effective leader? How can leaders and aspiring leaders take their leadership skills to the next level?

Marc: Leadership is a calling and the greatest leaders are passionate, exhibit enormous courage and commitment to their causes, even when it results in personal sacrifices or adversity. 

Communication is key and for leaders to take their skills to the next level, they need to inspire others - rallying them to their cause, igniting their energy and galvanizing their own passion. 

Adam: What are your three best tips applicable to entrepreneurs, executives, and civic leaders?

Marc: Discover your passion, commit to your passion and love and invest in that commitment. 

Adam: What were the best lessons on teamwork you learned from your time working in the NFL?

Marc: Respect is tantamount to any good relationship and regardless of rank and position, you should respect your team. Don’t take criticism personally and listen with an open mind. When you commit to your passion, do so wholeheartedly and strive for excellence every day. 

Adam: What should fans better understand about professional athletes?

Marc: A majority of people interact with professional athletes through the lens of media or live games. Given this boundary, it can be easy to forget that they are human beings as well, subject to the same emotions, tendencies and biases as the rest of us. Despite our abilities, at the end of the day - we’re all human. 

Adam: What is the single best piece of advice you have ever received?

Marc: Something I learned in seventh grade - the eternal words of Roman Emperor and Stoic philosopher Marcus Aurelius: “Our life is what our thoughts make it.”


Adam Mendler is an entrepreneur, writer, speaker, educator, and nationally-recognized authority on leadership. Adam is the creator and host of the business and leadership podcast Thirty Minute Mentors, where he goes one on one with America's most successful people - Fortune 500 CEOs, founders of household name companies, Hall of Fame and Olympic gold medal-winning athletes, political and military leaders - for intimate half-hour conversations each week. A top leadership speaker, Adam draws upon his insights building and leading businesses and interviewing hundreds of America's top leaders as a top keynote speaker to businesses, universities, and non-profit organizations. Adam has written extensively on leadership and related topics, having authored over 70 articles published in major media outlets including Forbes, Inc. and HuffPost, and has conducted more than 500 one on one interviews with America’s top leaders through his collective media projects. Adam teaches graduate-level courses on leadership at UCLA and is an advisor to numerous companies and leaders. A Los Angeles native, Adam is a lifelong Angels fan and an avid backgammon player.

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