Suiting Up with Paul Rabil

Suiting Up with Paul Rabil

By Paul RabilSportsBusiness
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Suiting Up with Paul Rabil episodes

  • Dave Morrow: Founder/CEO Warrior Sports

    "I operated under this belief that there was no such thing as a nice defenseman."

    A Princeton University grad, Dave Morrow was a National Champion, two-time defensive player of the year, two-time Team USA player, and two-time world champion. 
    As decorated of an on-field resume as his, Morrow's greatest impact on the sport has been what he's created off of it. He built Warrior Sports -- now the largest sporting goods manufacturer in lacrosse -- from his dorm room his junior year in college. 
    To fund the company, Morrow raised a seed investment from his father and college roommate, and immediately used it to generate hundreds of thousands of dollars in revenue in year one. His biggest challenge? He was a starting defender for the USA national team, playing in overtime of the world championship game, trying to defend the best player in the world (Gary Gait), with a gold medal on the line, and the future of his business -- Warrior was the team sponsor.
    On the show, we talk about what it's like to be a young entrepreneur drinking from the firehose, facing fear, taking on exorbitant risk, finding solutions, and executing.
    In 2004, New Balance acquired Warrior for an undisclosed amount. Morrow continues to operate as the company's CEO, building the hockey and soccer business, and continuing to innovate with new products and intellectual property.
    Hosted by professional athlete and entrepreneur, Suiting Up Podcast is a show that explores the psychology, playbook of tools, and strategies of the most influential people in sports, entrepreneurship, and entertainment. 
    Also, thanks to our sponsors, ZipRecruiter, Magic, and Mattress Firm. Try ZipRecruiter for free HERE, get a free phone consultation and priority service with Magic HERE, and head to mattressfirm.com/podcast to get the play-by-play on how you can monumentally improve your sleep today, tonight and tomorrow.

    1 hr 8 min
  • Tiki Barber: NFL RB & Entrepreneur

    "At some point, your opportunity will hit. At the time when you're least expecting it. You have to be ready. You have to jump."

    Tiki Barber is one of the best all-purpose running backs in NFL history. He was undersized, under-recruited, and was given his first opportunity to play when the starting running back at UVA got injured. He never looked back.
    He grew up with his twin brother Ronde (also an NFL star and future hall-of-famer) and single mother who worked two jobs, and taught them what hard work, resiliency, and passion looked like. At UVA, Tiki studied business, and was quick to jump into media after being taken in the 2nd round of the NFL Draft. Like all athletes, Tiki knew that his playing career would end, but life after football could be huge -- as long as he worked hard and took advantage of the league's platform.
    Quickly, Tiki became versed in media, co-hosting the Today Show and Fox & Friends, while making appearances on a dozen other major properties. While rushing and catching for almost 2,500 yards in one season, Tiki also began his entrepreneurial career, co-founding Thuzio with his UVA classmate, Rick Gerson.
    Tiki's well-networked, works incredibly hard, and is amazingly articulate in sharing his life story with us -- including tips to becoming a better athlete, and ways to expedite your career in entrepreneurship.
    Hosted by professional athlete and entrepreneur, Suiting Up Podcast is a show that explores the psychology, playbook of tools, and strategies of the most influential people in sports, entrepreneurship, and entertainment. 
    Also, thanks to our sponsors Beachbody, Bombfell, and Mattress Firm. Get $25 off your first Bombfell purchase HERE, and head to mattressfirm.com/podcast to get the play-by-play on how you can monumentally improve your sleep today, tonight and tomorrow.

    1 hr 8 min
  • Steve Nash: NBA Star and Entrepreneur

    "Rook...you've gotta be able to laugh at yourself." 

    Steve Nash is one of the greatest on-floor playmakers in NBA history. He's won back-to-back MVP's, and modernized the way the 2-man game is played. Pretty amazing given his two favorite sports as an amateur were soccer and hockey.
    Pre-social media era, Steve's one of the few athletes that ventured into entrepreneurship and media while he was still playing. Today, he's part of the Vancouver WhiteCaps and RCD Mallorca ownership groups, he's a consultant for the Golden State Warriors, GM for the Canadian Senior National Team, and architect of the Steve Nash Foundation.
    On the podcast, Steve and I talk about why and how he became one of the game's greatest players, what he characteristics he looks for in the greatest competitors, and his secret sauce to success (...define "resilience").
    His advice to any athlete or entrepreneur? "Declare your intention. Say it out loud and write it down. Then go for it." This is a great show.
    Hosted by professional athlete and entrepreneur, Suiting Up Podcast is a show that explores the psychology, playbook of tools, and strategies of the most influential people in sports, entrepreneurship, and entertainment. 

    1 hr 16 min
  • Randy Hetrick: Navy SEAL & Founder of TRX

    Randy Hetrick is a fierce competitor. He’s driven to perform at the highest level — in whatever he does. After college, he entered the Navy and joined SEAL Team One, where he had a 14-year career, ending as a Lieutenant Commander, leading a squadron at the SEAL special missions unit. On a mission in Southeast Asia, Randy took his old Jiu-jitsu belt, anchored to a backdrop, and started what we now refer to as "Suspension Training".

    After his time as a SEAL, he applied and got into the Stanford Graduate School of Business where he learned how to start a company, raise money, and grow. Having learned how to sew as a SEAL, to modify gear, he spent the summer of Stanford perfecting his prototypes and shortly after graduating, incorporated TRX Systems.
    Today, TRX is in over 40,000 gyms worldwide, and is used by all professional sports leagues and teams.
    Randy's a dear friend of mine. We went the distance on starting a company, managing people, dealing with failure, acknowledging "gaps", and leaning into the "gots."
    Hosted by professional athlete and entrepreneur, Suiting Up Podcast is a show that explores the psychology, playbook of tools, and strategies of the most influential people in sports, entrepreneurship, and entertainment. 
    Join the 2018 TRX Training Summit.
    Also, thanks to our sponsors, ZipRecruiter and Mattress Firm. Try ZipRecruiter for free HERE, and head to mattressfirm.com/podcast to get the play-by-play on how you can monumentally improve your sleep today, tonight and tomorrow.

    1 hr 2 min
  • Scott O'Neil: CEO, PHL 76ers, NJ Devils & Crystal Palace F.C.

    "Have a passion for the business, have a great management team, and then search for real opportunity." Scott O'Neil is the CEO of Harris Blitzer Sports and Entertainment (HBSE), a group that manages the Philadelphia 76ers, New Jersey Devils, and English Premier League's Crystal Palace. Their ongoing vision is to focus on acquiring sports franchises, sports venues, and sports and entertainment properties.

    Scott and I talk about the state of the teams in his current portfolio, then dive deep into the operational team at HBSE, the culture they've built, and the sales metrics (or what he calls "touches") they study to improve things like season ticket sales, digital impressions, and sponsorship opportunities. 
    I asked Scott two questions that I'm constantly working through, as well as observing others' management techniques. First, what does he look for in a qualified candidate, and second, how he balances oversight of multiple properties, strategy, and interpersonal relationships at the office. What he discloses is fascinating (hint: he's big into mindfulness and gratitude). 
    Hosted by professional athlete and entrepreneur, Suiting Up Podcast is a show that explores the psychology, playbook of tools, and strategies of the most influential people in sports, entrepreneurship, and entertainment. 

    1 hr 3 min
  • Kelvin Beachum: NFL Tackle and Investor

    Kelvin Beachum was born into a blue collar family in Texas. He was a studious undergrad, carrying both a graduate and master’s degree, while setting onfield records at SMU. It didn't stop there, though. Kelvin went on to deliver his collegiate commencement speech, then was drafted to the Pittsburgh Steelers of the NFL. 

    Kelvin's been through as many depth chart challenges as injuries, but he kept his head down, and quickly became one of the best offensive linemen in the NFL.
    Not wasting his stellar academic career, Kelvin is long on LinkedIn -- different than most athlete's choice of platform's on social media. He shares musings on portfolio companies he's been pitched to invest in, and shares his experiences from big tech conferences. Kelvin's a limited partner with Next Play Capital, a member of One Team Collective, and has a running list of charitable endeavors that include Bread for the World, World Vision, Feeding America, and STEM.
    Hosted by professional athlete and entrepreneur, Paul Rabil, Suiting Up Podcast is a show that explores the psychology, playbook of tools, and strategies of the most influential people in sports, entrepreneurship, and entertainment. 

    1 hr 24 min
  • Andrew Hawkins: NFL WR and Media Mogul

    Andrew Hawkins was a top slot receiver for the Cleveland Browns, having just retired in 2017 while on the roster of the New England Patriots. If you don’t know who @Hawk (twitter) is, type in his name on YouTube and watch his one-on-one highlights against NFL cornerbacks. If you’re an athlete at any level, and want to emulate great dodgers or route runners, very few do it better than Hawk.

    That said, his physical attributes and on-field talent are only a part of why he’s a guest on our show. More impressively, Hawk spent most of his NFL career working on his developing his business and media acumen. He received his masters from Columbia University in Sports Management, and took unpaid internships with the Detroit Lions and Uninterrupted. A grueling offseason schedule that included roundtrip flights to NYC for classes and exams (he graduated with a 4.0 gpa), gym and field workouts down in Florida, and most importantly, raising his family. 
    He has an incredible motor.
    Today, he hosts ESPN’s SportsCenter show on Snapchat, runs his own podcast with All-Pro NFL lineman Joe Thomas, and heads business development with Mav Carter and LeBron James' media company, Uninterrupted. Hawk's long-term goal? General Managing an NFL team.
    I think he’ll be an owner one day.

    1 hr 6 min
  • Cameron Porter: MLS Forward and Entrepreneur

    Cameron Porter was a four-year all-everything soccer player and computer science major at Princeton. He was drafted to Major League Soccer and immediately made an impact on the pitch, scoring a dramatic final-minute goal, sending his club (Montreal) into the CONCACAF Champions League Semifinals.

    Uniquely positioned as an top forward in the MLS, Cam also works for MLS's front office -- as a full-stack engineer. A true pro athlete and entrepreneur, Cam writes code and helps the fastest growing team sports league in the world buildout their digital, iOS, and Android platforms.
    I decided to upload this episode to kickoff our 2018 guest list because of two reasons:
    1. Cam’s incredibly thoughtful and articulate. I learned new tactics around sports psychology (like how to dig yourself out of a funk -- or poor play), as well as how a macro trend in new media is not only impacting soccer, but the rest of the field (including lacrosse).
    2. Cam’s so talented, that he’s already reached a place in his career where he’s making a decision on sport versus business – or his career after the pitch. The conversation is a buildup, where he breaks unexpected news on Suiting Up.
    A first for us.
    Podcaster's note: Cam's latest venture: www.hex.ventures

    1 hr 15 min
  • Success and Failure

    When we concepted and launched the podcast, I knew it would be fun to engage with my professional peers, but underestimated the value I would receive from sitting back and listening to their expertise and tips. Every guest I've hosted has experienced a certain degree of failure, loss, or trauma, causing them to either "bottom out" or hit "reset". However with every guest and each circumstance, there's been an amazing rebound; a success that they've credited from their learnings in failure.

    On today's show, we highlight some of the best moments from Suiting Up Podcast guests. It's Part 3 of my Reflection Series, and it's a great one. You'll hear from:
    1. Jay Williams
    2. Myles Chamley-Watson
    3. Matt Hasselbeck
    4. Dave Pietramala
    Enjoy -- and take notes!

    36 min
  • Traits of Successful Leaders

    When I concepted and launched the podcast, I knew it would be fun to engage with my professional peers, but underestimated the value I would receive from sitting back and listening to their expertise and tips. Every guest I've hosted has been -- at one point or another -- a captain, coach, or seasoned senior executive. 

    Leadership is not for the faint of heart. It's a job on top of another job. There's a commitment to setting a standard, building culture, and most importantly, working to understand, relate and improve your team. The commonality shared between leaders? Humility. By far and away.
    In Part 2 of my 3-Part Suiting Up Podcast Series, I'm highlighting 6 guests from 2017's class of interviewees, telling you my bottom line to their best sound bites on leadership. You'll hear from:
    1. Sam Walker on the captain class
    2. Dhani Jones on a leaders core characteristics 
    3. Jay Williams on the importance of communication
    4. Bill Belichick on management, culture, and preparation
    5. Mike Rabil on the importance of hiring the right people
    6. Drew Brees on motivation
    Enjoy the show.
    Next week, we'll discuss Success & Failure.

    37 min

About Suiting Up with Paul Rabil

From the publisher's feed

As a pro athlete and co-founder of the Premier Lacrosse League, Paul splits his time between the field and office. Maybe the real life Jackie Moon? Esquire referred to him as "the man some might call the greatest lacrosse player of all time" and Bloomberg calls the PLL "a new way of thinking about sports."