Sports Management Degrees Prepare You for the Business Big Leagues

There’s a reason why sports superstars like A-Rod can make a gazillion dollars a year. The main one being that the sports business industry is more than twice the size of the U.S. auto industry and seven times the size of the movie industry. In fact, according to Street and Smith’s SportsBusiness Journal annual survey, sports is one of the largest and fastest growing industries in the United States, estimated at $213 billion in 2002. Interested in sharing the wealth in a career related to your passion for all things sports, even if you’re not a superstar third baseman? If so, be prepared to complete a thorough business spring training within a reputable sports management degree program.

Step Up to the Sports Management Degree Plate

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Top 10 Sports and Recreation Franchise Business Opportunities

Though summer may be at an end, there’s no rule that says that recreational fun has to come to a close along with it. Regardless of season, sports and recreation are an undeniable part of life and a profitable business opportunity for wise business owners and investors. Whether you’re ready to start a fun indoor franchise business today or looking for the chance to start an outdoor sports franchise next spring, here are 10 great sports and recreation franchises that are ready for the right active entrepreneur.

1. The Athlete’s Foot

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Playing Sports and Succeeding in Business – Why They Often Go Together

I will admit it right upfront. In business, I tend to be partial to colleagues, associates or partners that have a background in playing sports. Or, at the very least, I tend to gravitate towards them. Why?

Because I believe, based on my own experience and those of so many other people I know, that playing sports and succeeding in business go together. I believe that people who have played sports even at an intermediate level, much less an advanced or professional level, were taught things inherently at a young age that others weren’t. This statement obviously doesn’t apply to everyone. There are tremendous business success stories of people whose sole passion and mission in life was to be successful in business and they eschewed playing sports. But, overall as a general rule, I still believe playing sports at a young age is beneficial in cementing certain personality traits which fuels success in business later in life. After all, most people, unless they’re in the minority, play a sport before they even sell lemonade at a lemonade stand as a kid.

Quick sidebar: when I use the term “playing sports”, I mean people who dedicated some portion of time towards getting better and achieving on a high level. Examples would be: making your high school soccer team; earning a college scholarship; playing a sport professionally; becoming a state champion wrestler. What I’m not referring to is taking beginner tennis lessons one summer; going surfing three times; playing golf once every two years; or shooting baskets in your driveway. You get my drift.

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