Growing My Social Capital

I made contact with three people, one of which I already knew.  First, I made contact with my trainer, Ernest Wiggins II, who started and runs an athlete training business.  My second person is Joe Cirulli, who is the founder and CEO of his company Gainesville Health and Fitness (which has been listed as one of Forbes' Top 25 Small Businesses in America).  My third contact is the athletic director of UF, Jeremy Foley.  I should add that for this assignment, I am not using the same business idea that I have used in past assignments.  This business idea is my baby, and it has been since my senior year of high school.  Here it is: I want to start up and run my own athletic training business, where athletes of all ages and all skill levels can come to train and work with the best trainers, coaches, physical therapists, and sports agents that the world has to offer.  My business will provide the facilities, equipment, and any resources necessary for one to become the best at their game.  Until now, only professional and college athletes had access to these assets, but now this business will make all of these things accessible to any athlete who is has the dedication and the drive to push themselves past their limit.

1.  Domain expert:  For my domain expert, I chose my trainer, Ernest Wiggins II, mainly because his business is probably the closest I have seen so far to my idea.  His business is still quite young (still an LLC.) but it is growing.  I feel that the stages that his business is going through now are the same stages that mine must make as well.  He also was on the U.S.A Olympic Track Team and is a professional track athlete, which is also exactly what I want to do as well.  I communicated with him through text and a phone call.  His advice to me was to keep pushing forward even when the road ahead is tough (cliche motivational speak), but he also told me the importance of networking and meeting people.  "My company would not be where it is today if I did this all on my own."  He also told me to not try to rush into making the business too big too fast.  He has had this business for about five to six years, and he still doesn't have a gym or workout facility, and he only has a few employees under him.  Even though he has the resources to expand his company, he avoids any unnecessary and hasty growth.

2.  Market Expert:  My market expert is Joe Cirulli, who I contacted through email.  Joe Cirulli would make an excellent market expert because he is also doing something similar to my business idea.  He already has three branches of Gainesville Health and Fitness, so he is doing quite well for himself and his company.  He has extensive and profound knowledge of creating a successful business in the health and fitness industry, which, though not identical, is pretty dang similar to the industry that I would be starting up in.  I have a lot I can learn from him.  Unfortunately, he is out at a conference for the week, so I was not able to get much feedback from him regarding my business.  However, I did develop a solid connection with him, and he has offered me a chance to meet with him once he returns, and also possibly intern with the company so I can see how a business such as this functions.

3.  Supplier:  Finding a supplier was extremely difficult and downright confusing to find.  Who would I need as a supplier if I am providing training services?  But then I remembered that once my business grows to the massive facility that I want it to become, I am going to need trainers, coaches, therapists, and sports agents, and I am going to need good ones.  That is why I contacted Jeremy Foley, because from him,I can establish connections with these professionals.  I can even set up an exclusive link with UF through him, allowing students studying in these fields a chance to intern with us or shadow a professional, and even offer UF students a job after they graduate.  Also, through Jeremy, I could potentially gain access to some resources available on campus.  For example, if I do not currently have my own facility, I may be able to train my athletes in their athletic facilities.  There are a lot of opportunities that lie within this connection.  I sent Jeremy an email telling him about my idea and asking if these were viable options and if this connection would be equally beneficial for both my company and Florida Athletics.  He said he would have to learn and understand more about my company, but he does like the idea of the opportunities it could potentially offer UF students and athletes.

Reflection:  I have to be honest, when I first saw this assignment, I dreaded life.  I didn't like the idea of bothering a professional businessman or woman with my pesky little ideas.  They probably had something better to do anyways, right?  But I decided to man up, get my mind right, and remember why I am dong what I am doing.  My first contact was Joe Cirulli, and his enthusiastic reply was both relieving and encouraging.  I felt on top of the world.  This proved to me that even though these people are busy running a company, they still are willing to make the time to help others who are trying to build a business of their own.  Contacting Ernest Wiggins was easy since I already knew him and have a good friendship with him.  When it came time to contact Jeremy Foley, I wrote my email with more confidence, now knowing that I would possibly get a response.  In the end, I am extremely glad that we had this assignment, and I appreciate the fact that Pryor has consistently pushed me out of my comfort zone like this.  Now, not only have I gained another point in this class, but I have gained two new, great contacts to add to my professional network!  So Pryor, if you are reading this, thanks bro *cough* extra credit.