Earned Relevance

New York Jets Star Kerry Rhodes Is Serious About His Business Game

If New York Jets Star Safety Kerry Rhodes took the Clifton StrengthsFinder assessment his top five characteristic strengths most assuredly would be driven, competitive, humble, empowered, and real.

The 2008 NFL Season is over.  Deservedly so, many professional athletes are resting their bodies or vacationing in exotic locales as a reward to themselves for the grueling pace they kept from August to February.  To the Jets’ Safety Rhodes, there’s work to do, and those guys are sleeping.  He’s driven.

The All Pro defensive leader has every right to kick back and enjoy the limelight. His stats match-up against the best of the best safeties in the league and his abs have graced the cover of Essence magazine. But, as are most fierce competitors, he cannot deal with NOT doing everything humanly possible to win on the field and off.  He prefers to put in work.  He’s competitive.

Rhodes is a natural at everything he does, and it’s not just athletics, though this former Alabama two-sport high school star could probably play in the NBA right now.  He’s also a naturally good guy.  Good guy doesn’t come to your mind when you see the 6′3″ safety taking-out running backs in car-wreck-like collisions, but there’s just no other way to describe his personal side.  Asked who he admires, he responded “I admire every couple that has sustained their marriages throughout the duration of their lives together.”  He’s humble.

Fans and future business partners of the 26 year old Rhodes are fortunate that the savvy budding business mogul arrived on the scene during the social media boom.  He’s every bit as excited to connect directly with people through his Twitter, Facebook, and Linkedin pages as they are about connecting with him.  Rhodes does not hold back online, either.  When Jets Quarterback Brett Favre recently announced his second retirement, Rhodes openly engaged his Twitter followers to clarify his views about Favre which the media had taken out of context during the season. The kid manages his own reputation. He’s empowered.

Here’s a warning to other NFL players and their agents.  Watch out for Kerry Rhodes.  You guys keep on making bonehead decisions that are causing you to lose endorsements, fans, and in some cases your careers.  Mr. good-guy Rhodes is looking very attractive to your sponsors these days.

If the “team of one” business managers Rhodes spoke of with me is worth their salt (and they are) we’ll be seeing his face on billboards on a highway near you very soon.  Don’t sleep on this good guy.  He’s real.

We sat down (virtually) with Mr. Driven-Competitive-Humble-Empowered-Real to learn more about the man behind the helmet.

Relevant Questions

Basic info:
Full Name: Kerry Rhodes
Hometown: Bessemer,AL
Last school attended: Louisville
What you consider your career to be: Professional athlete

…getting started.

You obviously have a plan beyond the playing field; what  can people expect from KR the business executive? Well, now I’m just getting started with some of my ideas and I have a lot of them, but at this point my main focus is helping the New York Jets get on track and consult my arena team that I’m part owner of, the New York Dragons.

You’re openly involved online (Twitter, Facebook, etc), what about interacting online draws you in? Well, I think its key to interact with your true fans and let them know you care about what they have to say; and the whole social media scene intrigues me. It seems to be the direction the world is moving in, and I don’t want to be left behind!!

Do you ever worry about exposing yourself too much to fans online? Not really because I don’t think your true fans will ever get tired of you!

What was the “aha” moment like when you said, “…this is what I want to do with my life!”? When I was 8 years old and playing football in the street. A father of a friend of mine at the time was a little league coach and saw us playing in the street and told me I was a great player. He insisted I should come out for the team and the rest is history!

Describe that first moment when you were doing what you love and you felt like you made the right decision. I think that happened when I played and started (I might add LOL) in my first NFL game ever against the Kansas City Chiefs and I led the team in tackles. I just felt like I belonged!

Who works for you and what do they do? Be as specific as you can. I have a personal assistant that takes care of my everyday things; bills, schedule, appointments, etc…. my agent that takes care of my contracts and some smaller endorsements…my publicist that takes care of all my publicity stuff like interviews and all that stuff…and my marketing team that handles my movie stuff and major endorsement opportunities!!(whew) but my team all work as one!
At this very moment, are you passionate about what you are doing? Definitely passionate right now! In my line of work, if you are not passionate I think it shows and affects your performance!
…inspiring to you.
What (who) inspires you?The thing that inspires me the most is failure! The reason I have been a success in my life is the fear of failing and not being the best at what I do.

Is there a product endorsement that you would NOT do? Cant say right now. (smart answer)

If you could pick one person to work with who you have not, who would that be?
There are lots of people who I would love to work with. This is a hard question because its so broad, but I guess I would stick to my line of work and say Steve young! I have admired him from afar for a long time.

Who do you admire? (No mom or dad allowed)I admire every couple that has sustained their marriages throughout the durations of their lives together…I’m big on this: When its that time, and you decide to get married, you have to do it the right way!

Gadget(s) of choice? My Blackberry. I can’t do with out it.
…so disappointing.

What’s one thing you’ve done to disappoint yourself? Not at least try to be a two sport athlete! I was one of the best two sport athletes coming out of Alabama (basketball and football) and to this day right now I know I can play for the NBA

What do others do that disappoints you? Not do everything humanly possible to win.

How is the economic recession impacting you? Not to sound cocky but not that much for me. I have been blessed.

Which part of your career could you give up in an instant? The fame that comes with me being a pro athlete. I call it the gift and the curse.

…leave ‘em with this.

How do you deal with adversity? Adversity happens to everyone and you have to take it on head first and learn from it and try to improve on the situation. So the next time you are better at adapting to it when it occurs.

What quote/saying are you best known for? If god brings you to it, he will bring you through it.

What do you do when you are not building your empire or training for the season? I’m an avid movie watcher at home. I can have a glass of wine and watch a movie and be alright for the night.

What’s next for you in business? I have some big things in the work that I’m not going to discuss yet but be on the lookout for Kerry the Entrepreneur!

Where can we find you online? You can find me on Twitter, Facebook, and Kerryrhodes.com.

If you had one last song to sing, line to deliver, or speech to give for a waiting audience or client, what would you leave them with? Do what makes you happy! everybody doesn’t have to like you but at the end of the day they should respect you!

(Jeff Wolfson contributed to this story.)