I attended my 40th (gulp, maybe in Canadian years?) reunion this past weekend, but my focus today is on the hour of truly chaotic yet perfectly typical Colgate University weather, and why everyone who was there fits perfectly into my narrative. Imagine several hundred people up on the hill on the Quad, it's dusk, we're all being handed metal torches with wax sticks, 60-ish degrees, and a light breeze. Fast forward a few minutes, we start lining up for the procession down the hill, and all of a sudden, massive wind gusts begin, and now everyone is struggling to light their torches, and those that get them lit find it challenging to keep the flames going. The winds howl even harder, and now it begins to rain. Formerly manicured hairdos are now hairdon'ts, flames are going sideways, and alumni of all ages (mostly older) are picking up the pace down the hill as we're all getting wet and wondering where the hell this storm came from! We get to the bottom, it's raining harder, the poor saps blowing their bagpipes are wondering if they get hazard pay, and the rest of us ditched our torches and headed to the massive class tents. Well, that was a bad plan. Read why it wasn't a great idea being in those tents, how this all turned into a valuable networking lesson, more about the Clubroom event series, another "30 Seconds With Mark" video and more in today's Win Again Newsletter! Check out the latest article in my newsletter: What a Thunderstorm at My 40th Reunion Taught Me About Networking linkedin.com/pulse/what-thun… via @LinkedIn

Check out the latest article in my newsletter: I’d Love Your Advice - Really! linkedin.com/pulse/id-love-y… via @LinkedIn

Graduation season is here. Caps are flying, cameras are flashing, parents are smiling, and somewhere in between the hugs and the handshake line is a quiet thought creeping in: “Holy sh*t, now what?” If that’s you (or your son or daughter), welcome to the club. The good news? You don’t need to have it all figured out; you just need a game plan. That’s exactly what I laid out in my job search playbook, “Win Again!”, and yes, it works just as well for non-athletes too. I’m currently working with a college student graduating this weekend (congrats to her!), and she’s following the tips below. Her calendar is filling up with conversations that are leading to casual in-person meetings that will lead to formal interviews and likely offers. Read the rest of the article in this week's Win Again Newsletter to see how to approach your next move and stand out among all the other job seekers. Check out how amazing our Clubroom event was last week about investing in women's sports, watch another "30 Seconds With Mark" video and much more! And please leave your comments below if either you need some direction for yourself or your college grad, or if you have additional advice you'd offer them! If I Were Graduating Today, Here’s Exactly What I’d Do linkedin.com/pulse/i-were-gr…

Here’s a simple question that most people don’t ask themselves often enough: Are you actually using the products you promote, advise on, or invest in? Because if you’re not, what are we really doing? Last night, I got my answer, on the ice. I wore the NeuroGuard for my hockey game, and I’ll be honest, I went in curious. I’ve talked about it, supported it, helped grow it, but there’s a different level of conviction that comes from actually using something in a real, competitive environment. And right away, I noticed it. I felt like I was skating a little faster. Maybe that’s the easier breathing. Maybe it’s mental. Maybe it’s both. But there was a difference. I felt more comfortable, more fluid. When I shot the puck, it felt like I had a little extra behind it too. Read more about why it was such a pivotal moment for me and my support for NeuroGuard in this week's Win Again Elevate Your Game Newsletter, watch another "30 Seconds With Mark" video, see why the Clubroom events are gamechangers for entrepreneurs, business leaders and athletes, and much more. Would love to hear from you about your product or service you're supporting and how you dig deeper with them on a daily basis - drop a comment below! Check out the latest article in my newsletter: If You’re Not Using It, You Don’t Really Believe in It linkedin.com/pulse/youre-usi… via @LinkedIn

Here’s a thought that might save you about 100 networking "coffees" this year. You probably already know the people who can help you succeed. That’s not motivational fluff. That’s straight out of Bob Beaudine’s excellent book "The Power of Who" (one of my favorites!). This doesn’t come from endlessly expanding your network, but from better leveraging the one you already have. In fact, Bob writes: “You already know everyone you need to know.” Let that sink in for a moment. Most of us operate under the belief that somewhere out there is a magical person we haven’t met yet who will unlock our next opportunity. So we attend networking events, send cold messages, and chase introductions like we’re collecting baseball cards. Meanwhile, the people who could actually help us are already in our phone! Read more about how to leverage your current connections, both here on LinkedIn and externally, watch the fantastic conversation I had with NHL Hall of Famer Jeremy Roenick last week in the Clubroom, watch another value-packed "30 Seconds with Mark" video and much more in this week's Elevate Your Game Newsletter from Win Again! Go Get 'Em! Check out the latest article in my newsletter: You Already Know the People You Need linkedin.com/pulse/you-alrea… via @LinkedIn

Forty-six years. That’s how long it took for the United States to climb back to the top of Olympic hockey and win gold again in men's hockey. Generations of elite athletes came close. Silver. Bronze. Heartbreak. Overtime losses. But gold? Not since 1980. And then it happened yesterday. Winning a gold medal in Olympic hockey isn’t just about talent. The NHL is filled with talent. This is about surviving the most compressed, pressure-filled tournament in the sport. One bad shift. One bounce. One lapse in focus. Your dream is over. That’s not just sport. That’s life. That’s business. That’s leadership. Look at the traits required to win Olympic gold that translate into business in the article in this week's Elevate Your Game Newsletter brought to you by Win Again, check out the details for Thursday's Clubroom event at noon ET with NHL Hall of Famer Jeremy Roenick, watch another "30 Seconds With Mark" tip-filled video, and much more! Hope to see you in the Clubroom on Thursday! Check out the latest article in my newsletter: 46 Years. Gold Medal. And a Blueprint for Business Success. linkedin.com/pulse/46-years-… via @LinkedIn

There’s a hard lesson many founders, sponsors, and operators eventually learn the expensive way, and yeah, throw me on that list: not everyone doing “good work” in public is doing good work in private. Some of the most damaging actors in business today don’t look like villains. They look like community builders. Thought leaders. Advocates. People who say all the right things, post all the right messages, and wrap themselves in causes that make it uncomfortable to question them. That’s exactly the problem. At face value, these individuals or organizations appear to be champions for a community, sports, athletes, nonprofits, founders, you name it. They speak the language of impact. They host events. They publish content. They position themselves as connectors and amplifiers. Behind the curtain, though, the math doesn’t add up. Read more about how to keep your eye out for those wolves, check out a replay of the valuable Win Again Clubroom event we had recently with CEOs Chris Hetherington and Kyle Harris, another "30 Seconds With Mark" video and much more in this week's newsletter! Check out the latest article in my newsletter: Beware the Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing linkedin.com/pulse/beware-wo… via @LinkedIn

If you’ve ever been (or watched) a CEO fight to take a young company into its next chapter, you know it’s not a smooth jog around the track, it’s more like the fourth quarter of a championship game when the clock is running down, half your starters are taped together, and you’re still expected to deliver a win. For CEOs of early-stage or recently commercialized companies, the climb from “promise” to “proven” is the defining stretch, and it’s packed with challenges that don’t show up on spreadsheets or pitch decks. Read more about those challenges and how real leaders are made in this week's Win Again Elevate Your Game Newsletter, where you will also read about how to register for next week's Clubroom event with CEOs Chris Hetherington of Fathead and Kyle Harris of BrainLit, another "30 Seconds With Mark" video, and much more! Thanks for reading, and I look forward to seeing you in the Clubroom next week! Check out the latest article in my newsletter: The Hardest Climb: What Emerging Company CEOs Face on the Way to the Next Level linkedin.com/pulse/hardest-c… via @LinkedIn

If you’ve ever tried raising capital in the sports-tech space, you already know the truth: it’s one of the noisiest, most crowded, most hype-driven arenas in the entire startup world. Everyone’s got an app, a wearable, a data platform, a sensor, an AI-powered coach, a community, or “the future of athlete performance.” And every founder swears theirs is the game changer. But here’s the plot twist: investors have heard it all before. They’re pitched nonstop by founders who promise innovation but can’t explain the real-world problem they solve, why they’re uniquely qualified to fix it, or how they’ll scale in a market where customers are notoriously slow to adopt new tools. So how do you rise above the crowd? Check out today's Win Again Elevate Your Game Newsletter where you will see what actually works to get you to stand out. Read about the fantastic event we had last week featuring Zoya Lehrer, Alejandro Oletta and Evan Anders Magnusson, watch another quick tip on "30 Seconds With Mark" and much more! Check out the latest article in my newsletter: Outshine Everyone: A Fundraising Guide for Sports Tech Founders linkedin.com/pulse/outshine-… via @LinkedIn

You’d think that launching a startup in the sports tech space would be a dream gig, fast-moving, packed with athlete endorsements, cutting-edge gear, locker room energy, and massive funding. But let me tell you, as someone who’s been deep in this arena, founding a sports tech company is no easy ride. In fact, it’s like running a 2-minute drill with no timeouts, a busted helmet, and your coaches (and the fans) yelling in every direction with advice you didn’t ask for. The truth? The challenges come at you from all sides. Read more about what founders face in this edition of the Win Again Elevate Your Game Newsletter, get the details on how to join us for our Sports Tech Founders event on Thursday, November 20th at 1pm with three co-founders in the sports tech space, Zoya Lehrer of Orgo, Alejandro Oletta of Nameless, and Evan Anders Magnusson of Valor, watch another "30 Seconds With Mark" tip-filled video, and much more! I've been partnering with numerous brands over the past several years to make that jump from 0-1, then 1-100 and so on, and I know the challenges. Let's jump into a meeting and see how I can help make that transformation! Reach out to me and we'll get things cranking! Check out the latest article in my newsletter: Being a Founder in Sports Tech Isn’t for the Faint of Heart linkedin.com/pulse/being-fou… via @LinkedIn

I was at a networking event recently when I noticed a man in his 50s with a name tag that read: "Insurance Rep." He looked a little worn down, and I made a light comment about how tough it must be to approach strangers asking for their money and trust. He nodded. He was clearly going through a rough patch. So, I asked him a simple question: “Are you involved in deciding how to invest the money you bring in?” He said yes. Then I asked, “Do your selections usually outperform the market?” Again, yes. That’s when I said, “Then don’t call yourself an insurance rep. You’re a financial strategist.” He nearly dropped his drink. Read more about why it's important to avoid leaning on your title, watch another "30 Seconds With Mark" video with tips, and much more in this week's Win Again Elevate Your Game newsletter! linkedin.com/pulse/youre-jus… via @LinkedIn

I had a conversation earlier today with someone preparing for a job interview, and I could tell they were already in their own head, doubting their experience, unsure if they were “good enough,” and completely forgetting one crucial fact: If you’ve been invited to an interview, they already believe you’re qualified. Let me repeat that: if someone has carved out time to meet with you, it means your résumé, background, or referrals have checked enough of their boxes. Now, they’re simply confirming it. They’re hoping to see someone who not only can do the job but wants to be part of their team and company’s growth. But here’s the mindset shift: you’re not just being interviewed, you’re interviewing them too. Too often, we walk into interviews with a one-sided mentality. We’re trying to impress, trying to prove ourselves, trying to get a “yes.” But the truth is, an interview is a two-way street. You should be evaluating the people, the role, the team, and the culture just as much as they’re evaluating you. Read more about why interviewing goes both ways, watch another quick-tip "30 Seconds With Mark" video, see why Clubroom events are so valuable for your business and career, and more in this week's Win Again Elevate Your Game Newsletter! Check out the latest article in my @LinkedIn newsletter: Interviewing Goes Both Ways, So Flip the Script! linkedin.com/pulse/interview…

🎣 Taking the Bait...What would hook you? 👉 A bold coaching offer? 👉 A chance to invest in one of the innovative companies I’ve partnered with? 👉 Exclusive content that actually helps you grow? 👉 Or maybe just the right intro to someone who needs what you offer? Whatever it is, I want to know. Because here’s the deal: I’ve spent years building an ecosystem that connects the right people to the right opportunities; coaching, investing, scaling, and collaborating. But it all starts with one question: “What’s in it for you?” So tell me, what kind of “bait” would compel you to: ✅ Jump into a coaching conversation ✅ Engage more with my content ✅ Refer someone to one of my ventures ✅ Or connect just to explore the possibilities? My goal is simple: Help more people expand their networks, build momentum, and create real, valuable results from the connections we make. So… what’s on your hook? Or better yet, what would get you to bite? Drop me a message, comment below, or just say “let’s talk.” Let’s cast some lines, and reel in some big fish! P.S. Yep, I did catch that large mouth bass about 100 miles northwest of NYC in Lake Joseph about 20 feet off the shore - it's a beauty, eh? And yes, it's back to swimming its way around the lake! Taking the Bait linkedin.com/pulse/taking-ba… via @LinkedIn

Whether you're walking into an interview, pitching a new product, asking for a raise, or just trying to get your point across in a meeting, one thing separates the pros from the rest: They always think WIIFT: What’s In It For Them? Too often, we prep for conversations thinking only about what we want. I want this job. I need this deal to close. I hope they understand my perspective. But here’s the secret: you’ll never get what you want until you align with what they want. That’s why every interaction — from a 5-minute coffee chat to a boardroom pitch — should be built around the other person’s needs, goals, and priorities. Read about how to focus on WIIFT, the dots I can connect for you to help your business and career, another "30 Seconds With Mark" video and more in this week's Elevate Your Game Newsletter brough to you by Win Again! Please add in the comments below any further guidance you can offer on how you approach meetings. Go get 'em! Check out the latest article in my newsletter: Want to Win the Room? Start with WIIFT. linkedin.com/pulse/want-win-… via @LinkedIn

Last week, we teamed up with the Brooklyn Cyclones for a special Tomorrow's Champions event, and if you’ve ever wondered whether giving back really makes a difference, let me tell you this: Yes. It. Does. Every single time. What made this night so special wasn’t just the incredible ballpark views or the crack of the bat under the Coney Island lights. It was seeing kids — many of whom had never been to a baseball game before — light up as they experienced the sights, sounds, and magic of the game for the first time. That’s not just a fun night out. That’s a spark. And sparks turn into ripple effects. Read more about the effects that giving back can have, another "30 Seconds With Mark" video, and much more in this week's Elevate Your Game Newsletter brought to you by Win Again! #GivingBack #YouthSports #TomorrowsChampions #BrooklynCyclones #CommunityImpact #SportsMatter #MakeADifference #BaseballWithPurpose #WinAgain Check out the latest article in my newsletter: Why Giving Back Is Always a Home Run linkedin.com/pulse/why-givin… via @LinkedIn

Recently we hit the road to Foxborough, MA for the 200x85 hockey tournament at the Foxboro Sports Center, and let me tell you, nothing beats meeting young athletes and their parents in person to talk about why NeuroGuard is a game-changer for safety and performance in hockey. Yes, we had a table. But more importantly, we had real conversations. You've heard me speak numerous times of the value of making direct connections. I can't overstate how much more business you will get and impact you will have when you can look directly into a potential customer's eyes to make your case. What you are presenting becomes more compelling, and you can read their body language so much easier than on a video call, phone, email or text! I had the chance to speak directly with players and parents about how our lower-teeth covering NeuroGuard mouthguard isn’t just comfortable and easy to speak with it in place, but it’s designed to massively reduce the risk of concussions. And when you explain how it works, face-to-face, you see the light bulbs turn on. There’s no substitute for that moment of understanding, especially when it’s about keeping their kids safer on the ice. Read more about why in-person engagement is critical, our Win Again Club room events, another "30 Seconds With Mark" video, and much more in this week's Elevate Your Game Newsletter! Bringing NeuroGuard to the Ice, One Conversation at a Time linkedin.com/pulse/bringing-… via @LinkedIn

If there’s one thing I’ve learned from hosting over 200 Win Again Clubroom events, it’s this: the people in the room are your best resource…if you know how to tap into them! And tomorrow, July 24th at 1pm ET, you’ll get a golden opportunity to do just that. We’re welcoming a powerful lineup of former Major League Baseball players including Bud Norris, Jesse Biddle, Brandon Beachy, Zach Lutz and more to join us for 90 minutes of candid, open conversation about life after baseball and their journeys into business. But this isn’t a panel or a lecture. It’s a Clubroom experience, which means: ✅ You can move from table to table ✅ Speak directly with anyone you want ✅ Have real conversations — not just small talk. So how do you make the most of that? Here’s the key: Ask good questions. And offer real help. But there's more to it than that! Read more about it in this week's Win Again Elevate Your Game Newsletter, see what Clubroom events truly maximize and grow your network (and your net worth!), watch another "30 Seconds With Mark" video, and more! See you in the Clubroom! Check out the latest article in my newsletter: The Secret to Getting (and Giving) the Most in the Clubroom linkedin.com/pulse/secret-ge… via @LinkedIn

The 7 Words That Could Boost Your Salary Let’s say you’ve made it through the résumé black hole, you crushed the interview, and now, finally, you’ve got an offer! You’re tempted to pop some champagne and reply, “Yes! I’ll take it!” Hold up. Breathe. Put the cork back in. Because before you accept that job, I want you to say seven magic words that could literally put thousands of extra dollars in your pocket: “Do you have any flexibility with that number?” Read more about why those seven words will make a ton of difference, see the details about my upcoming MLB All Star Game virtual event in the Win Again Clubroom next Tuesday 7/15 at 1pm with several MLBers in attendance, watch another "30 Seconds With Mark" with some solid advice, and much more in this week's Elevate Your Game Newsletter! And remember, reach out to me directly anytime if you need to raise the bar for your business or career! linkedin.com/pulse/7-words-c… via @LinkedIn

Ah, the dreaded question we’ve all been asked at some point, especially in job interviews or networking events: “So, tell me about yourself.” Cue the inner voice screaming, “Where do I even start?!” Do I talk about my career? My athletic past? My obsession with golf and chicken wings? Here’s the good news: This question isn’t a trap. It’s actually an opportunity if you know how to approach it. Read how to reply to "Tell Me About Yourself", revisit a classic Win Again Clubroom event, check out another "30 Seconds With Mark" and much more in this week's edition of the Elevate Your Game Newsletter - go get 'em! Check out the latest article in my newsletter: How to Answer (or Artfully Dodge) “Tell Me About Yourself” linkedin.com/pulse/how-answe… via @LinkedIn

Let’s get one thing straight - I love AI, and use it as needed. I’d be crazy not to. It’s fast, it’s smart, and it won’t forget your birthday (if you’ve told it once). But as someone who’s coached hundreds of high-performing professionals, former athletes, and executives trying to leap into new careers, I can tell you this: AI might be a great assistant, but it’s not your coach. And it never will be. Read more about how a top-notch career coach / mentor separates themself from AI-generated coaching in this week's Elevate Your Game Newsletter below. Check out how the Win Again Clubroom is changing how entrepreneurs, founders, investors and other amazing people come together, see highlights from my chat with Olympians Leah Amico OLY, Ruben Gonzalez ❄️ and Darrin Steele, watch another "30 Seconds With Mark" video, and more. Enjoy, and go get 'em! Why AI Can’t Replace a Great Career Coach linkedin.com/pulse/why-ai-ca… via @LinkedIn