Famous Aggie promotes success
One of the most famous Aggies to date, Merlin Olsen, encouraged a small group of business students Wednesday to have the courage to follow their life dreams.
As a part of Gaylen Chandlers Management and Human Resources 5640 class, Olsen shared his life experiences including his success at Utah State University, in the NFL and on television. Olsen grew up in Cache Valley and said his mother still lives in his childhood home on Canyon Road.
Olsen said he learned a lot about teamwork and cooperation being raised in a big family and being involved in athletics. Activities such as athletics, debate, student council and ROTC served as precursors for opportunities Olsen would have later in his life, he said.
“Take as many opportunities as you can to challenge yourself in various areas,” Olsen said. “How will you know what you want to do unless you test yourself?”
Olsen attended USU on an athletic scholarship and upon graduating in finance had job offers from Xerox, IBM and was drafted by the Los Angeles Rams. Ultimately, Olsen decided to play for the Rams because “football was more fun than my statistics class.”
However, Olsen continued to be involved in the business world as a “back-up” and a way to make money during the off-season. Olsen played for the Rams for 15 years with a starting salary of $20,000 and ending in 1976 at $110,000.
Along the way, Olsen had many business opportunities including owning a travel agency with a friend. However, Olsen said he didn’t understand enough about the business to be successful. Later he worked with an erosion control business that successfully saved Sonny and Cher’s house after a California storm. Once again, Olsen said he realized that it was not his area of expertise when the government told him he had to be licensed to do such work.
“Find the things you want to do and not just the ones that seem like a good idea,” Olsen said. “Finding your niche and expertise involves some homework on your part.”
Olsen then faced the transition of leaving football and doing something different with his life. With the help of a friend, Olsen said he made a list of goals and priorities and eventually became a football commentator on NBC and had a starring role on “Little House on the Prairie.” Despite his lack of formal acting training, Olsen said he grew up believing in himself and enjoyed the challenge.
“Change is the only reality in life. Don’t be afraid of it. Go with open eyes, ready to learn and positive expectations,” Olsen said.
Flexibility is another key for success, he said. Although Olsen never won a Super Bowl, he said both teams always have great game plans, but that the team that can make the most adjustments to the changes will win.
College students, especially those graduating, should have the courage to believe in themselves, to dream, to take advantage of opportunities and to make it happen, Olsen said.
“We don’t really learn that on top of an education we have to be confident to be successful. It was good to hear that you can fulfill what you want to if you are confident and do it,” Sterling Campbell, a liberal arts senior, said.
-hilaryi@cc.usu.edu