42: Why Athletes Are Built to Succeed After Sports
Thinking about starting a brand? This episode will give you the reality most people skip. What if the skills that made you successful as an athlete are exactly what make you valuable in business? In this episode of What’s Next!, Bryan sits down with former professional soccer player and Pioneer Sports leader Brian Enge to talk about his own transition out of the game and why, looking back, he believes he may have walked away too soon. Brian shares the fear he felt about falling behind his pee...
Thinking about starting a brand? This episode will give you the reality most people skip.
What if the skills that made you successful as an athlete are exactly what make you valuable in business?
In this episode of What’s Next!, Bryan sits down with former professional soccer player and Pioneer Sports leader Brian Enge to talk about his own transition out of the game and why, looking back, he believes he may have walked away too soon. Brian shares the fear he felt about falling behind his peers, the pressure to start a traditional career, and what he now tells athletes facing that same decision.
The conversation also explores why Brian estimates that 90% of the people he has hired throughout his career have been athletes. From discipline and resilience to teamwork, accountability, and understanding the connection between hard work and results, he explains why athletes already possess many of the characteristics organizations are looking for, even when they don't have traditional industry experience.
Bryan and Brian also take on the larger conversation happening around youth sports, including pay-to-play, access, scholarships, and the role organizations like Pioneer Sports can play in developing not only better athletes, but better people and future leaders.
If you're wondering what's next after your playing career, this conversation is a reminder that you aren't starting from zero. You're bringing years of experience with you that can translate far beyond the field.
Chapters
00:00 – From Harvard to Professional Soccer
03:45 – Did Brian Leave the Game Too Soon?
05:30 – The Fear of Falling Behind After Sports
08:15 – Why Brian Hires Athletes
10:45 – Inside Pioneer Sports
15:30 – The Truth About Pay-to-Play Youth Sports
21:00 – Making Sports More Accessible
24:45 – What Youth Sports Really Teach Us
27:30 – The Future of Pioneer Sports
33:15 – Experience Over Opinion
Connect with Brian Enge
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianenge
- Website: https://pioneersports.com/
Connect with Bryan:
Check out the website: www.whatsnextpodcast.com
Connect with Bryan on Instagram: @bryanfinnerty22
Connect with Bryan on LinkedIn: @bryanfinnerty
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