Discipline, Leadership, and Resilience
The dedication, perseverance, and consistency a sport instills in a person, is one that continues with them throughout all phases and fields of life. Athletes develop important traits like discipline, leadership, teamwork, and resilience as a result of the demanding nature of their sport. These principles encourage a strong work ethic, the capacity to persevere in the face of difficulty, and a dedication to reaching objectives in all phases of life. On the journey to become the successful CEO he is today, Kevyn Scott, chose to maintain and cultivate these skills as an athlete in order to overcome all the milestones he did.
Kevyn Scott's Journey from Football to Cybersecurity
Born in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Scott grew up in a big athletic family. Explaining to Co-founder of Leap Brands, Chaz Cervino; football, specifically, is a sport that filled Scott's life as his father was a longtime highschool football coach that produced some of the best athletes. Eager to become a professional football player, Scott worked tirelessly and earned a scholarship to Syracuse University. While maintaining a football career, Scott also prioritized academics and decided to major in information technology. After signing with the Miami dolphins as a free agent, Scott decided to dive into the corporate world for a brief experience, but ended up continuing in it for 13 years as he states “I found myself there.” He then made his way to Washington DC, as the opportunities for cyber security were extensive, where he landed a position as a federal contractor for the US government.
Franchising
During the pandemic, Scott decided to explore the world of franchising. In exploring, Scott realized how important his upbringing was in instilling characteristics that would aid his future. He explains that growing up playing football since the age of five, with a playbook to follow, made him realize that franchising operates in a similar way. Scott invested in a Charleys cheesesteaks franchise in 2021 and opened up two locations within a year. Through operating these franchises, Scott highlighted that he is a competitor and a team builder as he becomes motivated off of building an intertwined connection with his team. He enjoys creating a positive environment for his employees because he believes that happy employees aid a business in prospering. In growing his business, Scott has acquired around 100 staff members and uses their presence as a motive to continuously push through and persevere since they are dependent on him. He finds it gratifying and worth his hard work when he realizes the impact he's making in his workers' lives.
Conclustion
Some important lessons learned from Scott's conversation is that career shifts and pursuing other interests are acceptable and 'not the end of the world'. Life is dynamic, and adapting to new opportunities can lead to personal and professional growth. Another key lesson is the importance of caring for your workers, as this not only increases their morale but also directly benefits the overall success of the work. Furthermore, always be sure to carry forward what you have previously learned, continuously improving upon it, as this accumulated knowledge and experience will prove invaluable in the future. By integrating these lessons, one can build a more fulfilling career and foster a positive work environment.