By Panayiotis Constantinou, Contributor Athletic greatness is built on repetition, resilience, and mastery of fundamentals. The same goes for business. But while athletes often spend years perfecting their craft on the field, court, or track, many jump into...
There’s a moment in every athlete’s career—sometimes loud, sometimes quiet—when the jersey starts to feel temporary. Bodies age, contracts expire, and the roar of the crowd softens. What remains is a question; What’s next? For some, the answer is broadcasting, coaching, or philanthropy. For others, it’s something bolder—something built from scratch: Business.
Over the past couple of decades, we have witnessed the increasing internationalisation of sports. National barriers can no longer restrain sport personalities, athletes and clubs. Social media, 24-hour news cycles, podcasts and transnational brands do their best to keep you engaged for as much as possible.
The number of active and former professional athletes who try their luck in business has been growing exponentially through the years. Athletes start to venture into entrepreneurship to extend their brand beyond sports, diversify their income and eventually create a post-retirement plan that will help them sustain their lifestyle after retirement.
In the transitional world of professional sports, athletes are presented with a unique opportunity to transcend their traditional roles. With the advent of technology-driven changes, athletes have the chance to not only excel in their respective fields, but also to leave a significant mark in the entrepreneurial arena.
Even though there is no doubt that athletes possess a wide range of unique skills and traits that could prove to be valuable in an entrepreneurial career, such as discipline, perseverance and the continuous need to improve, the transition into the world of business does not come without obstacles and challenges. Mentorship can be the link between the field of sports and the field of business.
