A Year of Advice: Lessons from the Daktronics Experience Podcast

As another year of conversations comes to a close, we found ourselves going back through every episode of the Daktronics Experience Podcast and listening for a familiar moment.

At the end of each show, regardless of venue size, job title or market, we ask our guests the same question:

“What advice would you give to someone stepping into your world or about to go through a similar experience?”

When you line up those answers side by side, a bigger picture starts to form. What follows isn’t a checklist or a how-to guide. It’s a reflection of the themes, mindsets and lessons that consistently surfaced across our conversations this year, shared directly by the people doing the work.

Starting Is the Hardest Part

Across nearly every conversation, one idea came through loud and clear: momentum matters more than perfection.

Whether guests were talking about launching new content, upgrading a facility or stepping into a new role, the advice often came back to the same place – just start. Get moving. Learn by doing.

“I think the advice is get started.”
Syracuse University – Schine Center Esports

“My biggest advice would be to just dive in and do it, and take the bull by the horns and go and do it right.”
Idaho Central Credit Union (ICCU)

Different projects, same reality: waiting for the perfect moment often delays progress more than it helps.

Plan Big, but Plan Together

Starting is important – but so is vision. Many guests emphasized the value of thinking long-term and bringing the right voices into the room early.

Whether it was a display upgrade, a new facility or a refresh of existing technology, planning wasn’t just about hardware. It was about alignment.

“Make sure you have the right people involved from the beginning so you can plan on content.”
Duke University – Bob & Zac

“Rely on the experts.”
Savannah Bananas

“Think through the process ahead of time and what success actually looks like for your venue.”
Iowa State University

The common thread: big projects succeed when ownership, partners and operators share the same vision from day one.

Trust Yourself and Stay Curious

Confidence showed up in many forms this year – not as having all the answers, but as being willing to learn in public.

Guests spoke openly about experimentation, mistakes and growth, especially for those early in their careers.

“Be confident in yourself and try new things. Learn from other people and combine all of that together, because you’re not going to know every answer.”
Elon University

“Be open to ideas and be open to change.”
Francisco Castillo – Event Production

The takeaway wasn’t about avoiding failure. It was about staying curious enough to keep improving.

People Make the Project

Technology came up often this year, but people came up more.

From creative teams to operations staff to external partners, guests consistently pointed back to collaboration as the real driver of success.

“Reach out. Ask questions. Don’t be afraid to lean on people who have been through it before.”
Sidney Public Schools

“You’re not doing this alone, even if it feels that way at first.”
Behind the Creative – Duke University

The best outcomes weren’t tied to a single role or department. They were the result of trust, communication and shared ownership.

Perspective Matters

Not all advice was about growth or scale. Some of the most meaningful moments were quieter reminders about perspective.

Guests talked about patience, humility and remembering why the work matters, especially during long projects or high-pressure seasons.

“Sometimes you can’t even put it into words. Just rely on the people around you.”
Huron High School

“Take a step back and remember what you’re building toward.”
Real Madrid

In an industry that’s always moving forward, those pauses matter.

Looking Ahead

Listening back to these conversations, what stood out most wasn’t any single quote – it was the consistency.

Different markets. Different challenges. Different scales. Yet the advice echoed the same core ideas: start before you’re ready, plan with intention, trust your people and stay open to learning.

As we head into a new year of conversations, we’re grateful for the guests who took the time to share not just their projects, but also their perspective. We’ll keep asking the same question. And we’re absolutely looking forward to the answers still to come.