Betting On Yourself

Legendary, 14-season veteran of the NBA, Corey Maggette, joined host Michael Redd to talk about the “no days off mindset,” leaving Duke early to chase his NBA dream, and stepping up his game to play with the most elite athletes on the planet.

“No one in the history of the Duke organization had ever left, especially as a freshman. And I felt at that time it was a great opportunity to pursue this dream that started when I was 12 years old at The Boys & Girls Club [of America], to bet on myself and see if I could make it in the NBA.” – Corey Maggette

Corey is a family man, former NBA standout, star player in Ice Cube’s BIG3 basketball league, and commentator for Fox Sports and the Los Angeles Clippers.

He was drafted by the Seattle SuperSonics in the first round of the 1999 NBA draft, and traded shortly thereafter to the Orlando Magic, where he played his rookie year. He went on to acclaim as an LA Clipper for the following nine seasons and took them to the playoffs in 2005-2006.

Corey is Michael’s former teammate and rival in the NBA, and friend of over 25 years (all the way back to high school!).

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In this episode Michael and Corey talked about:

• What Betting on Yourself means to him
• Living by faith in Christ
• Moving forward without knowing the outcome
• Developing a strong work ethic
• Going all-in on basketball and academics
• What it was like to play for Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski
• Lessons on adversity and his rise to professional success
• And more!

To ask a question, read the transcript, or learn more, visit MichaelRedd.com.

Resources:

• Corey Maggette
• Michael Redd on Instagram

Entrepreneur and Founder of The Roosevelt Coffeehouse, Kenny Sipes, joined host Michael Redd to talk about his winding path to entrepreneurship, jumping (and risking it all) without a net, and what it means to bet on himself.

“I was either going to plan a church … go be a missions pastor at another church, start a non-profit, social justice organization, or go work for one. And those were what was on the table.” – Kenny Sipes

Kenny Sipes – Founder and Executive Director of Redeeming Injustice (The Roosevelt Coffeehouse and Roosevelt Coffee Roasters) in Columbus, Ohio – is a former youth pastor, and current advocate for clean water, world hunger, and fighting human trafficking.

Kenny is a natural, and somewhat unconventional, storyteller. If you’ve ever wondered if your story is finished, if you’ve missed your calling, if time has run out, please listen to this episode!

And if you're a fan of the show don’t forget to Subscribe to see new episodes, and Rate or Review us wherever you tune in!

In this episode Michael and Kenny talked about:

• How taking a leap of faith changed his life
• Lessons on the path from leaving youth ministry to creating a community around coffee
• How he worked himself out of his full-time barista gig as a unifier for social justice in Columbus, Ohio
• On good luck, better timing, and the fallacy of long-term planning 
• And more!

To ask a question, read the transcript, or learn more, visit MichaelRedd.com.

Resources:

• The Roosevelt Coffeehouse
• Kenny Sipes on LinkedIn
• Kenny Sipes on Twitter
• The Roosevelt Coffeehouse on Twitter
• Michael Redd on Instagram

Allan Houston, two-time NBA All-Star, Olympic Gold Medalist, and Founder of social impact and leadership development company FISLL, rapped with host Michael Redd about his rise to becoming a top NBA player, and his subsequent successes, failures, and hard lessons learned.

“Relationships are the currency of life.” – Allan Houston

Allan is a legendary shooting guard from the Detroit Pistons and New York Knicks. In addition to making the 1999 NBA finals with the Knicks, he’s also served as GM and is currently a special assistant to the General Manager.

The two-time NBA All-Star, Olympic Gold Medalist, and philanthropist is also Founder of FISLL – based on the values of Faith, Integrity, Sacrifice, Leadership, and Legacy – created with a mission “...  to engage, equip and inspire people to Live Better, Perform Better, and Lead Better.”

If you're a fan of the show don’t forget to Subscribe to see new episodes, and Rate or Review us wherever you tune in!

In this episode Michael and Allan talked about:

• Allan’s commitment and devotion to mastery, on and off the court
• How confidence is built on preparation
• Why you have to show up with everything you have
• How to build a foundation for achievement (hint: maintain strong relationships)
• Why true success is about focusing on the details and being consistent every day
• And more!

To ask a question, read the transcript, or learn more, visit MichaelRedd.com.

Resources:

• Allan Houston
• FISLL
• FISLL on LinkedIn
• Allan Houston on Instagram
• Allan Houston on Twitter
• Michael Redd on Instagram

President and owner of Columbus-based Uniglobe Travel Designers, Elizabeth Blount McCormick, spoke with host and friend Michael Redd about the art of approaching business (and life) without fear, why a “no” often leads to a better “yes,” and the importance of adopting a “no fear” attitude.

"Nothing beats a failure but a try. And the worst thing you can hear is a ‘no.’ But the one phrase I live by is ‘a no leads to a better yes’. There are times I’ve been told no, but that means something else was in store." – Elizabeth Blount McCormick

Uniglobe Travel Designers is a minority, women-owned travel management company with over 40 years of experience in the travel industry.

Elizabeth is a pioneering entrepreneur who has made her mark in multiple industries and the world as a whole. She is the recipient of too many civic and business honors to list here! 

Elizabeth is a member of The Wellington School Alumni Board as well as the board of Mansion Day School. She is a member of the Women’s Leadership Council of United Way of Central Ohio, the Columbus Chamber Small Business Council, Women’s President’s Organization and National Association of Women’s Business Owners-Columbus, where she also serves on the board. In addition, she is a member of Women for Economic and Leadership Development and the United Negro College Fund Leadership Council.

If you're a fan of the show don’t forget to Subscribe to see new episodes, and Rate or Review us wherever you tune in!

In this episode Michael and Elizabeth talked about:

• What the retailer Gap taught her about business and success
• On working with Bono and Ali Hewson
• Doing business in the time of COVID
• The critical importance of innovation and creativity in entrepreneurship
• And more!

To ask a question, read the transcript, or learn more, visit MichaelRedd.com.

Resources:

• Elizabeth Blount McCormick on LinkedIn
• Uniglobe Travel Designers
• Uniglobe Travel Designers on Instagram
• Elizabeth Blount McCormick on Instagram
• Michael Redd on Instagram

Steven Lim, owner of Watcher Entertainment, and the creator/host of the YouTube series “Worth It,” joined host Michael Redd to talk about second-guessing himself, taking risks when he wanted to play it safe, and rejecting – then accepting – a job offer that would ultimately open the door to his viral online success.

“I didn’t start making videos because I wanted to make cat videos… I came here because I wanted to make really meaningful, impactful videos about culture, identity, and food.” – Steven Lim

On his wildly popular Buzzfeed YouTube series “Worth It” – gearing up for Season 9 – Steven tastes pricey food from all over the world. A long way from his hometown in Ohio, he now impacts millions with his work and world travel, including Japan, where he ate the best meal of his life.

Watcher Entertainment was launched in January 2020 by Steven Lim, Ryan Bergara, and Shane Madej. Their production studio created the viral shows Worth It and BuzzFeed Unsolved, “... and is focused on creating television-caliber, unscripted series in the digital space.”

Note: Due to technical difficulties this interview was recorded on Zoom.

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In this episode Michael and Steven talked about:

• How a career in chemical engineering took an about-face
• Why he started making YouTube videos on his phone
• Making an impact with your platform for a greater purpose
• Why his vision and values validated his intuition as a content creator 
• How to get syndicated on Hulu and Amazon
• Why “taste is the language everyone speaks”
• And more!

To ask a question, read the transcript, or learn more, visit MichaelRedd.com.

Resources:

• Watcher Entertainment
• Watcher Entertainment on YouTube
• Steven Lim on Twitter
• Steven Lim on Instagram
• Michael Redd on Instagram

Entrepreneur Tim Staples joined host Michael Redd to talk about his hard-fought wisdom and experience, a reminder to place your bets carefully, and how to always be prepared for change.

“I like to think of passion as like a metal detector for where the good stuff is.” – Tim Staples

Tim Staples has carved a space for himself in the marketing and advertising world, first in sports, then in the entertainment industry, and now with major brands like Pepsi, AT&T, MARS, Adobe and The Olympics. He has an “... unprecedented track record of creating some of the biggest hits in digital marketing.”

But it all nearly fell apart when he started out on his own and realized there was more to entrepreneurship than just taking the leap.

If you're a fan of the show don’t forget to Subscribe to see new episodes, and Rate or Review us wherever you tune in!

In this episode Michael and Tim talked about:

• How to build emotional storytelling in a digital world
• Why humility and taking risks go hand-in-hand
• Lessons along the path to becoming a “sage of content, ideas, and disruption” 
• The best way to learn how to swim
• How to host 40 celebrity events in 60 days
• The origins of Shareability and rise of the YouTube machine
• And more!

To ask a question, read the transcript, or learn more, visit MichaelRedd.com.

Resources:

• Shareability.com
• Tim Staples on Twitter
• TimStaplesBook.com
• Michael Redd on Instagram

Award-winning Hollywood film producer, Nina Yang Bongiovi, chatted with host Michael Redd about the challenges and hurdles she’s overcome, how she forged her own path in an ultra-competitive industry as an Asian American, and how to make a difference in the world.

“Being willing to spend the time to develop the talent is really important. And I also choose people who are underrepresented in our industry … that’s critical.” – Nina Yang Bongiovi

Nina is an American film producer with over 20 years experience. She’s a regular award-winner at Sundance with movies like Fruitvale Station (produced by Nina and her producing partner, Forest Whitaker), Sorry to Bother You, Netflix’s Roxanne Roxanne, Dope, A Kid From Coney Island (a documentary about Stephon Marbury) and many more.

“...Under their banner Significant Productions, Nina and Forest have produced a number of critically-acclaimed films by auteur filmmakers of color.”

Nina is a consummate producer, advocate for uplifting underrepresented voices, and an all-around Hollywood powerhouse. As an Asian American in Hollywood, she’s had unique challenges and hurdles to overcome to reach the level of success she has.

Her career started watching Chinese martial arts films and soap operas with her mom in Taiwan. Through perseverance and an eye for opportunity, Nina has forged her own path in an ultra-competitive industry.

Nina is a board member of Film Independent, The Oscar Grant Foundation, Coalition of Asian Pacifics in Entertainment (CAPE) and the Producers Guild of America (PGA), as well as a member of The Academy of Motion Pictures Arts & Sciences’ (AMPAS) Producers Branch.

To learn more about Nina’s work and to follow her story, you can follow her on Instagram at nybongiovi.

NOTE: Our apologies for any audio issues with our podcast guest interview. We hope it doesn't distract from the important message of this episode. Thank you!

In this episode Michael and Nina talked about:

• Her humble beginnings in Hollywood
• What motivates her to excel as a producer
• Her time in the Hong Kong film industry
• The power of identity and betting on underrepresented storytellers
• How to invest in people for success
• Her working relationship with Forest Whitaker
• And more!

To ask a question, read the transcript, or learn more, visit MichaelRedd.com.

Resources:

• Nina Yang Bongiovi on IMDb
• www.FilmIndependent.org
• Nina Yang Bongiovi on Instagram
• Michael Redd on Instagram

The CEO of Columbus-based office design and furnishing company, Continental Office, Ira Sharfin, spoke with host Michael Redd about his passion for life-long learning, and why he teaches the mantra “bet on yourself” to his own family.

“The best thing you can do is bet on yourself. It’s not that you don’t need other people – you always need people to help you – but no one can do it for you. There are no handouts.” – Ira Sharfin

Ira is the CEO of the award-winning, Columbus-based, office design and furnishing company, Continental Office, and a member of the Columbus Young Professionals Club Advisory Board.

As a partner of Continental Office since 2005, Ira leads “...one of the top workspace solutions providers in Central Ohio.” The legacy Ohio company has locations in Pittsburgh and Toledo with over 200 employees.

Ira is a Columbus, Ohio native with consulting and management experience at Coopers & Lybrand Consulting, PricewaterhouseCoopers, and IBM Corp.

If you're a fan of the show don’t forget to Subscribe to see new episodes, and Rate or Review us wherever you tune in!

In this episode Michael and Ira talked about:

• Ira’s early challenges in academics
• How to cultivate a passion for life-long learning
• Why you need conscience, conviction, and curiosity to succeed
• Takeaways on how to embrace mistakes and listen with empathy 
• How to run a business that leads to lasting prosperity and fulfillment
• Why it’s not where you start ...
• And more!

To ask a question, read the transcript, or learn more, visit MichaelRedd.com.

Resources:

• ContinentalOffice.com
• Ira Sharfin on LinkedIn
• Michael Redd on Instagram

Entrepreneur and venture capital expert, Christoph Sonnen, reunited with host Michael Redd to talk about his road to success and what betting on yourself really means to him.

“Great business ideas are like surfing. You won’t make it if you’re too early, you won’t make it if you’re too late.” – Christoph Sonnen

Christoph is the co-founder and CEO of leAD sports accelerator and is also a partner at ADvantage Sports Tech Fund, joining forces with Jeremy Pressman and friend Michael Redd with a commitment to invest in early-stage tech companies shaping the future of sports.

Over the last 20 years, he has founded, managed, and sold several businesses, structured funds, investments, and accelerator projects.‍ He is passionate about building the right team and believes in having the vision to be able to see the next big thing.

A world-class surfer, Christoph compares entrepreneurship and building a business to waiting for the perfect wave. That success is not so much about being the best, but knowing when to make your move as you see it.

If you're a fan of the show don’t forget to Subscribe to see new episodes, and Rate or Review us wherever you tune in!

In this episode Michael and Christoph talked about:

• How great business ideas are like surfing
• Why startups need to learn how to hold their breath underwater (without panicking)
• Takeaways on Christoph’s first (and last) job at Red Bull
• How he combined sports, tech, and his venture experience to great success
• What the future of sports tech looks like
• The challenges and rewards of venture life
• And more!

To ask a question, read the transcript, or learn more, visit MichaelRedd.com.

Resources:

• leAD Sports & Health Tech Partners
• ADvantage Sports Tech Fund
• Christoph Sonnen on LinkedIn
• Michael Redd on Instagram

Welcome to Season 2 of Betting On Yourself! We couldn’t think of a better way to kick off this season than with an amazing interview host Michael Redd did a couple of years ago with venture investor and entrepreneur, Chris Sacca.

Chris spoke at length with Michael about his road to success, times on his journey when he had to put it all on the line and bet on himself, and how he came to be one of the most successful venture investors ever.

“Startup investing is one of my things — but it’s not my everything.” – Chris Sacca

Chris is the Chairman of Lowercase Capital, and together with his wife Crystal, they’ve invested in over 70 early-stage companies that include heavy hitters like Twitter, Uber, Instagram, Twilio, Stripe, and Kickstarter, making Lowercase Capital one of the most successful funds ever.  

You might have seen Chris for a couple of seasons on Shark Tank making deals. But as of 2017, he’s stepped back from investing to focus on other efforts like rescuing democracy, healing the planet, promoting diversity within venture capital and technology, reforming our criminal justice system, and other endeavors.     

If you're a fan of the show don’t forget to Subscribe to see new episodes, and Rate or Review us wherever you tune in!

In this episode Michael and Chris talked about:

• Why you need to focus on each deal through the lens of a novice 
• Lessons on going deep in the hole (like $4M in debt)
• How Chris sent out 700+ resumes to the top 100 investors in tech … with no reply
• Why success is about being ready for the right opportunities
• The importance of finding balance in your life
• How to create both impact and influence
• And more!

To ask a question, read the transcript, or learn more, visit MichaelRedd.com.

Resources:

• ChrisSacca.com
• Lowercase Capital
• Chris Sacca on Twitter
• Michael Redd on Instagram