3 Entrepreneurial Athletes Who Are Building Brands Behind The?Scenes

Every Athlete Can Build A Brand, But Is Every Athlete Is Marketable?

What is really the difference between branding and marketing?

A lot of people might think that they are the same thing, but there are a couple of subtle nuances that make them very similar but different concepts.

Branding is more about who you are and what you’re about while marketing is how you build awareness and how you communicate that message. Another way to look at it is that branding is your strategy, while marketing encompasses your tactical goals. 

When it comes to building a personal brand, branding is what differentiates you from others, and what your story is but marketing is how you reach your target audience and through what mediums you express those things. Branding is very emotional while marketing is very calculated. 

Nowadays, everyone can build a personal brand and the reality is that everyone already has one. All things considered, your personal brand is just another way of defining your reputation. We all have and can build on our reputation or enhance the way people see and think of us.

In the sports world, you’ll find that any athlete can build a personal brand, but I don’t believe that of them are necessarily marketable.

In my opinion, for an athlete to be marketable they have to consistently deliver a high-level performance of course, but also they have to also possess an X-factor or a major quality that sets them apart, both on and off the playing field. This combination allows them to transcend their sport and reach millions of people.

Being marketable really depends on a ton of things but a lot of it comes down to an athlete’s location geographically, the skill in which they possess and the team or organization that they play for.

For example, if you’re a middle-tier athlete playing for a major franchise in the NBA such as the Los Angeles Lakers who has a major reputation worldwide and has also been building its brand for several years, then you’ll have the opportunity to be seen in a wider market and attract better endorsements, relationships, etc…

On the other hand, if you play for the Denver Nuggets in which you’re the top scorer on the team plus a potential All-Star caliber player, it still might be difficult for you to attract the same fan base, recognition in other countries, and maybe even fans domestically. Even with that being the case, it doesn’t mean you can’t build a brand that works for you.

With all of this being said, there are a ton of athletes who aren’t necessarily the most marketable because of the team that they play on or their skill level, but they still have built strong brands behind the scenes and maximized their business opportunities because they know how to use what they have to their advantage.

Knowing who you are, what you’re about and how you can use that to your advantage will allow you build your brand regardless of whether you’re marketable and as an athlete or not.

Below are 3 athletes who aren’t the most marketable, but are still building big brands behind the scenes. 

3 Athletes Who Are Building Brands Behind The Scenes

1. Anthony Toliver– Tolliver has been in the NBA for over 10 years and he has made every year count. Widely known as a “glue-guy” and role player, Tolliver has never been in the spotlight for any team but he has made a name for himself off the court when it comes to entrepreneurship. He has always been interested in finance and business since graduating from Creighton University in 2007. As a serial entrepreneur, he is a partner in the clothing company, Active Faith, he owns various real estate properties and has invested in several other companies.
2. Lewis Neal– Neal is a former LSU standout lineman who now plays for the Dallas Cowboys. Neal owned a barber shop in college and is currently the co-owner of a financial investment firm as well as a cybersecurity company. At 22 he is already preparing for life after football and building an empire one step at a time.
3. Trevor Booker– Booker and his college roommate already own more than 12 companies and shares of a half-dozen more. His plan is to become a billionaire in 30-35 years. They also JB Fitzgerald Venture Capital which is a parent company for a bunch of smaller companies they own underneath it. They have invested in just about anything they think will make money, such as eco-friendly shampoo to the DC United Soccer team.

Leveraging Revelence To Create Longevity

The key is longevity.

Not in sports but in life. 

These athletes know that retirement will come for them and that they have to be prepared to take that next step to transition into something else.

Investing, building businesses and growing your brand doesn’t have to be complicated.

These athletes have done it and have made a lot of strides during their career.

One major takeaway is that they all have a team, a mentor or someone to help them make the right moves. They aren’t taking everything on by themselves because it’s impossible to do so, especially during the season.

Building a brand or any type of venture is a collaborative effort that takes time, but surrounding yourself with the right people will make anything a little easier.

Malcolm Lemmons is an athlete turned entrepreneur, author, and speaker. He focuses on helping athletes brand themselves to prepare for life after sports. To check out more from Malcolm, visit his website at www.malcolmlemmons.com or connect with him on Twitter & Instagram