The Athlete Brand Advisor Podcast

Life After Sport with John Coyle

In this podcast episode, Greg Glynn, founder & CEO of Pliable and John Coyle, founder & CEO of the Art of Really Living discussed John's extensive background in sports, academia, and media. John shared his journey from Olympic athlete to motivational speaker and author, discussing his experiences in cycling, speed skating, and his work in innovation and design thinking. The conversation concluded with discussions about John's upcoming role as an Olympic analyst, his approach to handling stress and performance.
 
Olympic Athlete's Career Transition Journey
John shared his journey from a young athlete to an Olympic silver medalist and his subsequent career transition. He discussed his early love for cycling and speed skating, his struggles and eventual success in the Olympics, and how he reinvented himself after retiring from competitive sports. John emphasized the importance of focusing on one's strengths and highlighted a pivotal moment when he realized his impact on a young skater, which led to a significant shift in his identity and career path. He now works as an analyst for NBC during the Olympics and is a motivational speaker, sharing his story to inspire others.
From Athlete to Inspirational Speaker
John shared his journey from being an Olympic athlete to becoming a successful public speaker and author. He discussed how a colleague encouraged him to give a TED Talk, which led to numerous speaking opportunities and the development of his personal brand. John emphasized the importance of storytelling and the impact of his talks, highlighting that he never knew who he would reach or inspire with his words.
Design Thinking and Innovation Insights
John discussed his career in innovation and design thinking, highlighting his experience studying under David Kelly at Stanford and his work with IDEO. He emphasized the importance of design thinking, a creative problem-solving methodology, and shared that his talks focus on reframing problems to achieve better outcomes. John explained his approach of designing for strengths rather than fixing weaknesses and helping athletes manage stress to perform better.
Stress Management Through Athlete's Mindset
John discussed his approach to handling stress by adopting an athlete's mindset, emphasizing the importance of gamifying challenges to alter neurochemical balance and improve performance. He also explored the concept of slowing down the perception of time, drawing from his upcoming book "Counterclockwise," and shared his previous works, including "The Time Manifesto" and "Design for Strengths." Greg appreciated John's positive approach and suggested ways to share this information with a broader audience.
Embracing Challenges for Growth
John shared his journey of pursuing adventures and writing about them for the past decade, emphasizing the importance of investing time in high-risk, high-reward opportunities. Greg discussed his plans to launch an online course to help athletes and parents understand NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) opportunities, acknowledging the rapidly changing landscape of sports and the need to leverage his strengths as a broadcaster. Both agreed on the value of using one's unique skills and embracing challenges to achieve personal and professional growth.
Remote Olympics Analyst Role Discussion
John and Greg discussed John's upcoming role as an analyst for the Olympics, which will be held remotely from Stanford, Connecticut, due to budget constraints. John expressed his disappointment at not being on-site, as he values the in-person experience and real-time communication with coaches and team members. Greg shared his own experience of remote broadcasting during COVID-19 and acknowledged the challenges of not being physically present at the event. They agreed to stay in touch and potentially collaborate in the future, with John offering his services as a keynote speaker for Greg's athletes transitioning out of sports.
 
Links:
johnkcoyle.com
PliableMarketing.com
How to connect with John:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnkcoyle1/
https://www.instagram.com/coylejohnk/
https://www.facebook.com/johnkcoyle/
https://www.youtube.com/@JohnKCoyle1
Email: info@johnkcoyle.com

Choosing the Right College with Shellee Howard

In this episode of the Athlete Brand Advisor podcast, Greg Glynn, founder & CEO of Pliable Marketing talks about helping athletes find the right college and how to get scholarships and reduce debt with Shellee Howard, the Founder and CEO of College Ready.
Shellee Howard is the Founder and CEO of College Ready and a Certified Independent College Strategist who helps families navigate the college admissions process with a proven, personalized approach. A best-selling author and global speaker, Shellee specializes in helping students gain admission to top-tier schools and graduate debt free. With real-world experience as a mother of four college graduates, she empowers students to build standout strategies for academic, financial, and personal success.
In the podcast, Shellee shared her background in college preparation and detailed her approach to helping students develop unique strategies for college applications, including identifying core values and pursuing authentic community service opportunities. 
Shellee shared her journey into the college preparation business, inspired by her son's successful college application process. She emphasized the importance of viewing college as a business and highlighted her son's strategy, which included leadership activities and a focused approach, leading to full-ride offers from USC and Harvard. Shellee now helps families create similar standout strategies for their children, aiming to provide clarity and support in the college application process.
Shellee shared her experience of touring 25 colleges and emphasized the importance of starting the college planning process early, ideally when children express career interests. She highlighted that students in their program start as young as seventh grade and explained the benefits of a long planning runway. 
Discovering Student Core Values
Shellee discussed a strategy for helping students identify their core values, passions, and gifts, emphasizing the importance of individuality and authentic self-expression. She encouraged parents to engage in one-on-one conversations with their children to understand their true interests and aspirations, rather than imposing their own expectations. Greg inquired about exercises to uncover core values, and Shellee suggested focusing on proven achievements and encouraging students to articulate their motivations beyond external influences.
Authentic Community Service
Greg and Shellee discussed the importance of community service in college applications. Shellee emphasized that while community service is crucial, it must be authentic and driven by passion rather than just fulfilling requirements. She advised against common activities like tutoring, which are often seen as easy and expected by colleges. Instead, she suggested pursuing unique and meaningful service opportunities that showcase a student's true character and dedication. Greg agreed with this approach, noting that it aligns with the concept of branding in college applications.
College Admissions and Leadership Insights
Shellee discussed her "vault" tool, which provides real data on college admissions criteria and requirements, helping students understand what each school values. She emphasized the importance of demonstrating leadership and community impact in college applications, highlighting her students' work with EmpowerEducation.World, which supports education projects in Uganda and Mexico. Greg and Shellee also discussed the realities of athletic scholarships, noting that while major revenue-generating sports like football and basketball offer significant funding, students in other sports should focus on combining academic excellence with athletic achievement to enhance their college applications.
Student-Athlete Academic Success Strategies
Shellee discussed the importance of balancing academic and athletic achievements for student-athletes, emphasizing that maintaining a high GPA can significantly increase their chances of college admission and success. She clarified that her organization does not engage in college outreach or NIL deal negotiations but focuses on academic support and intramural sports. Shellee advised parents to prioritize written contracts over verbal promises and encouraged realistic goal-setting for student-athletes.
College Preparation for Student-Athletes
Shellee discussed her approach to preparing students for college and life beyond sports, emphasizing the importance of developing a comprehensive plan. She shared her resources, including free materials, best-selling books, and a complimentary discovery call, as well as her pricing structure for various services. Greg appreciated Shellee's insights, particularly her emphasis on helping athletes focus on their core values and gifts rather than relying solely on sports opportunities. They agreed on the importance of preparing athletes for life after sports and discussed the potential for athletes to pursue NIL deals and community service opportunities.
Show Links:
WebsitesPliableMarketing.com
www.collegereadyplan.com
www.instagram.com/collegereadyplan
https://www.facebook.com/CollegeReadyPlan
https://www.youtube.com/@collegereadyplan
https://www.linkedin.com/in/shelleehoward/
 
Social media
@pliablemktg on Instagram, X and Tiktokwww.instagram.com/collegereadyplan
https://www.facebook.com/CollegeReadyPlan
https://www.youtube.com/@collegereadyplan
https://www.linkedin.com/in/shelleehoward/

Former Boxer Uses Athlete Branding to Write Book

Greg Glynn, founder and CEO of Pliable sits down with Mark O'Connor to talk about his boxing career and how he used his talented hands in the ring to then write a book.
Mark is from Saint Paul, Minnesota, and discusses his inspirational book, 'It's About Time,'
In 2024, Mark received the 2024 Minnesota Irish Network Literary Award from Tim Nolan for his collection of short stories and poems.
Mark Connor is a Literary Pugilist from Saint Paul, Minnesota. A lifelong boxer and Boxing Trainer, he runs a service called, Fighting Chance/Boxing For Life. His writing about Boxing, as well as his training services, can be found athttps://boxersandwritersmagazine.com.
He writes fiction, poetry, and journalism. He is the 2022 Boxing inductee to the Mancini’s St. Paul Sports Hall of Fame. He attended the University of St. Thomas in Saint Paul, Regis University inDenver, Colorado, and graduated with a BA in English from the University of Minnesota. He has written and published many articles about Boxing, Irish culture, and people and events related to Irish freedom. He has also published local news and features on business, politics, and current affairs in Minnesota and the U.S.His Substack newsletter, Irish, Catholic, Punchdrunk in Saint Paul, can be found at https://markconnoricpunchdrunk.substack.com.
In this episode of the Athlete Brand Advisor Podcast, Mark talks about why he wrote the book and then shares some of his poetry with the listeners as well. 
Links:
boxersandwritersmagazines.com/books

Athlete to Author with Nick Peck

The podcast episode with Greg Glynn, founder & CEO of Pliable features guest Nick Peck, a former college athlete and award-winning journalist who transformed his football experience into a debut novel called "Only Way Out."
Nick shares his journey from high school football to becoming a successful author, discussing his writing process and the themes of his book which follows a high school athlete seeking escape through sports. The conversation concludes with discussions about marketing strategies, including potential NIL opportunities, and Nick's advice for athletes, while Greg promotes Nick's social media presence and future collaboration possibilities.
Football to Fiction: Nick's Journey
Nick discusses his football career, starting as an offensive lineman in high school, then transitioning to long snapping in junior college and later at Upper Hour University. He explains that writing has always been his true passion, and he used his athletic career as a stepping stone to become an author. Nick then describes his novel "Only Way Out," which is loosely based on his life experiences. The story follows a high school senior named Jalen Pierre who seeks to escape poverty and family issues through football. Nick emphasizes that the book's themes are common among athletes using sports as a means to improve their circumstances.
Nick's Journey and Writing Process
Nick discusses his process of writing a book, waking up at 4 AM daily for six months to write 10 pages a day before his day job as a journalist. He explains that he wrote from a third-person perspective to allow readers to put themselves in the story. Nick shares that his book aims to inspire by presenting a raw, genuine story of his journey, and he plans to continue writing books throughout his life, viewing it as his new purpose after his athletic career.
NIL Opportunities for Student-Athletes
Nick discusses the benefits of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) opportunities for college athletes, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds. He expresses that he would have appreciated NIL opportunities during his time as a student-athlete, as he worked four jobs to make ends meet. Greg suggested that Nick could potentially use NIL to market his book by partnering with current athletes who resonate with his story, an idea Nick finds appealing.
Author's Marketing and Writing Journey
Nick discusses his approach to marketing his book, which includes leveraging social media, utilizing his connections from sports, and working with a publicist. He mentions becoming an Amazon bestseller and his efforts to showcase his post-athletic career. Nick currently works as a journalist covering the stock market for a publication called "With Intelligence," while also pursuing his author career. He has already started on his second book, which he plans to continue writing throughout his life. Nick is based in Austin, Texas, but enjoys a nomadic lifestyle, having lived in five different states and visited 47. 
Nick's Writing and Athlete Advice
Nick discusses his sources of inspiration for writing, mentioning role models like Kobe Bryant, Nipsey Hussle, and Patrick Willis. He explains that his book is available on various platforms and that fans can best connect with him through his Instagram account @nickpeckauthor. Nick offers advice to athletes, emphasizing the importance of perseverance and gratitude, encouraging them not to quit and to appreciate their journey rather than chasing fame and glory.
Links:
Websitehttps://www.nickpeckauthor.comSocial media accounts:Instagram: @nickpeckauthor