Success Advice
What Every Entrepreneur Can Learn From These 5 Amazing Sportsmen Who Turned To Business

There are clear parallels between the world of sport and business. Those who rise to the top often share similar character traits such as determination, a strong ‘will-to-win,’ a crazy work ethic and the ability to function at an exceptional level both individually and in a team situation. What lessons can an aspiring entrepreneur or business owner take from their business careers?
Below are five lessons from some truly amazing sportsmen who made successful transitions from the world of sport to the world of business. We have focused on those who made more money and continue to do so from their off field/off court businesses than they did from their sports salaries.
David Beckham
David Beckham would readily admit that he is not the best ever footballer (soccer to our US readers) to play the game but he definitely shares traits with those who could more readily substantiate that claim. His commitment and work ethic are well-known, representing England with his best performance when his last minute free kick sent England to the World Cup Finals, during the World Cup qualifier versus Greece on October 6th 2001.
It was when his transition into business that David Beckham truly excelled. When Beckham joined LA Galaxy after leaving Real Madrid in 2007, the 5 year deal was for worth $250 million and included sponsorship and merchandise sales.
Lesson from David Beckham:
Think global and be prepared to go where your products services are best appreciated. e-commerce means that small businesses (even sole traders) can trade internationally.
Magic Johnson
A true superstar on the court in the NBA period we informally refer to as ‘Before Jordan’ Earvin ‘Magic’ Johnson often had moves that left his competitors drooling. This did not change as he transitioned into a very successful business career.
Under the banner of Magic Johnson Enterprises he owns Burger Kings, T.G.I. Fridays, Magic Johnson Theaters, 24-Hour Fitness/ Magic Johnson Sport health clubs in poorer communities that lacked these establishments. In April 2011 he also purchased 3 radio stations in the Phoenix, Arizona area.
Lesson from Magic Johnson
Commercial opportunities are not limited to one type of consumer. Get to know the dynamics of your market and use them to your advantage.
George Foreman
When George Foreman was counted out in the historic ‘Rumble in the Jungle’ fight against Muhammad Ali on the night of October 30, 1974 in Kinshasa, Zaire he could never have imagined the magnitude of his ‘comeback’ and that it would not be in the ring but outside it.
In 1995 Foreman partnered with household-products maker Salton and helped them sell almost 100 million George Foreman Grills. In 1999 he sold the rights to his name to his grill-making partner for $137.5 million. He has introduced a clothing line and cleaning products line.
Lesson from George Foreman
You have to take risks to reap the rewards. Putting his name to a grill was quite a risk for the former world heavyweight champion.
Tony Hawk
It’s not an overstatement to say that for many people, Tony Hawk “Is Skateboarding”. It was Hawk who landed the first ever “900” at the X games—two and a half spins in mid-air and created around 80 new tricks and yet his business moves have proved to be just as amazing.
Hawk owns Birdhouse, one of the largest skateboarding companies in the world and started his own clothing line – Hawk Clothing. He has established sponsorship deals with Six Flags, Kohl’s, Infospace, Adio shoes, Jeep and Sirius Satellite Radio, but his best application to date was the launch of the Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater Video game in 1999 in partnership with Activision. The game quickly became a bestseller making his company the No. 1 action-sports video game franchise. He has also published his autobiography which also became a bestseller.
Lesson from Tony Hawk
Embrace technology to expand your brand.
Venus Williams
Venus ‘Ebony Starr’ Williams is well known for exploits on the tennis court having amassed 43 career singles titles including 7 majors but her form is just as impressive in the business arena. She is the CEO of V Starr Interiors, an interior design firm founded by Williams in Florida after she completed her associate degree in Fashion Design at the Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale. In a separate deal Venus partnered with retailer Steve & Barry’s to launch her own fashion line ‘EleVen’.
In 2009, she became part-owners of the Miami Dolphins, a professional American football team, along with her sister Serena Williams. She has also co-written a book, ‘Come to Win; on How Sports Can Help You Top Your Profession’, which was highly placed (5th) on the New York Times bestseller list.
Lesson from Venus Williams
Build business ventures around your passions and continue your professional development.
We hope that you have found this information inspiring.
Guest Blog written by Mike Pitt, Founder and CEO of Marketing Fundamentals Ltd www.marketingfundamentals.com
Success Advice
How Your Beliefs Can Supercharge or Sabotage Your Success
Your life is dictated by beliefs and biases that drive your thinking, behaviors, and decisions

Pause for a moment and ponder two pandemic-era beliefs: First, closing schools will control the spread of a serious virus. Second, the consequences of such school closures—particularly social interruption and the prevention of immunity—are worse than becoming sick with the virus. (more…)
Success Advice
How to Break the Cycles of Mediocrity and Manifest Your Greatness
There is no greatness without becoming and there is no becoming with authenticity

In just a few weeks, we will be wrapping up 2023. Can you believe it? This year has been absolutely incredible for me.
I have seen amazing doors opened, new relationships formed and I am seeing dreams realized in my life. While this seems like the hallmarks of a great year, this has also been the most challenging year of my life. With all of the change happening in my life, I have been forced out of my comfort zone and challenged to grow in every area of my life.
I can truly say that I have made the most of my moments this year and I have used everything as a catalyst for maximizing my greatest potential.
As a revolutionary leader, I have the pleasure of consulting and advising leaders around the world to fulfill purpose, realize their greatest potential and make an impact.
I want to share some insights with you that will help you to break cycles of mediocrity and manifest your greatness.
Everything legal must come through the matrix
I am sure that some of you are wondering why I am using the term matrix. However, what you have to understand is that I am trying to make a highly complex spiritual principle practical to understand.
Regardless of your spiritual beliefs, every life has an origin and I believe that origin is divine and begins with eternity. You are birthed from eternity and into time to fulfill a unique purpose and assignment in your lifetime and generation.
The matrix is simply the portal or vehicle that brings something out of the invisible realm and into tangible form. The problem with much of the teaching today is that it excludes the matrix. We are told to believe that success is instantaneous and overnight.
Nobody talks about how a dream progresses through stages beginning with visualization and ultimately culminating in manifestation. Without a matrix or portal then everything that you attempt to birth and build will be illegal.
The matrix not only makes you legal but it gives you the authority and power to function as the greatest expression of who you were created to be.
Every matrix has an incubation process
While many people admire and respect me today, I remember a time when nobody knew who I was or the significance of my message. How did I get to where I am today? I got here through an incubation process.
In other words, everything that has been destined for your life is incubating and awaiting a set time of manifestation. The problem is that most people live their entire lives idle and never initiate the incubation process.
What do I meany by that? Most people are living reckless and very few people are living intentionally. I am amazed at the number of people I have conversations with that have no vision, goals or strategies for their lives. They show great promise and they have undeniable potential.
However, without development they will die with their dreams still in them.
Everything that has been destined for your life must be incubated and converted to become realities born to time.
“Visualize this thing that you want, see it, feel it, believe in it. Make your mental blueprint and begin to build.” – Robert Collier
You must give expression to that which is not yet born to time
When you think about a matrix or a prophetic incubation process, you have to understand that potential is often unrealized and untapped. In other words, your potential is in raw form and your potential cannot serve you as long as it is untapped.
The thing that makes me valuable is that I have the ability to convert potential into power. I have done it in my own life and I have empowered leaders around the world to do the same. How do you convert potential into power?
First, it is important to note that you have to perceive potential. If you cannot perceive your potential then you can never cultivate your potential. In addition, you must take the time to cultivate your potential. We often get excited about our capabilities; however, we never expand our capacity in order to realize our greatest potential.
In other words, the strength of your potential is only discovered through your willingness to stretch. The more we are challenged the more we are empowered to expand our capacity for greatness. Most of all, you must begin to express your potential. The expression of potential is different for every person.
For example, the expression of my potential is best demonstrated through the thoughts, ideas, products, services, books, etc.
For another person the expression of potential may look like a screenplay, artwork, sports, scientific discoveries, medical breakthroughs, etc.
Regardless of the form of expression, I know that you will live empty and unfulfilled until you make the decision to express your potential. The expression of your potential gives voice to your dreams, life to your vision, significance to your moments and activates your true power.
You must manifest your greatness
As a revolutionary thinker and leader, my work has impacted people around the world. I am grateful that my life is a source of empowerment to so many people. However, before anyone could ever benefit from my life, I had to make a non-negotiable decision to become who I was born to be.
I wish I could tell you that this journey is easy and that you will get there overnight. However, in a world that celebrates us for doing we are often criticized for being. As a result, I wasted a lot of time trying to be who other people wanted me to be instead of being who I was born to be.
There is no greatness without becoming and there is no becoming with authenticity. It is through our bravery to be vulnerable that we ultimately manifest our greatness. We do not bless the world by being a duplicate. We bless the world when we honor our difference. When you honor your difference you honor your potential.
Ultimately, your difference is how you manifest your greatness.
When you present anything but your authentic self to the world, you are playing small and you are robbing the world of your significance. Manifesting your greatness requires you to master your gifts.
Success Advice
Here’s a Young Man’s Antidote for the Uncertainty of the Modern World
Why do a lot of young guys lack confidence in today’s world?

We all have been told that confidence is a key factor in achieving success and happiness in life. But what is it exactly? (more…)
Success Advice
Toxic Leadership: 5 Ways to Identify a Bad Leader
if you have a leader who displays any of the toxic traits, it’s time to move on to greener pastures.

Let’s be honest, we’ve all crossed paths with a toxic leader in our careers at some point. Unfortunately, while some toxic leaders don’t even bother to hide their behaviour, some know very well how to conceal their true selves behind a strong-built facade. The latter is the most dangerous of the two. (more…)
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