Magic Johnson has always been a basketball player, but in recent years he has also started to venture into business. He opened his first restaurant and is now expanding with new projects like the upcoming Los Angeles Dodgers stadium.
Magic Johnson Reveals How a Lansing Businessman Changed His ‘Entire Life’ is an article about how Magic Johnson has changed the life of a Lansing businessman. Read more in detail here: magic johnson real name.
Magic Johnson’s name conjures up images of him handing out behind-the-back passes for the Los Angeles Lakers. While it is certainly part of the guard’s image, he has accomplished so much more in his life. Aside from his attempts to de-stigmatize HIV, the living legend has dabbled in a variety of businesses, including sports ownership and Starbucks.
Those commercial projects, on the other hand, would not have been conceivable without some crucial help.
While it may not seem revolutionary — everyone, even Magic, needs assistance from time to time — it does give an important viewpoint. Professional sportsmen are more than entertainers in this age of “shut up and dribble.” They’re fully developed individuals capable of doing a variety of tasks outside of the courtroom.
Magic Johnson recalls how a local merchant (or two) had a profound impact on his life.
*{padding:0;margin:0;overflow:hidden} html,bodyheight:100% img,spanposition:absolute;width:100% ;top:0;bottom:0;margin:auto;bodyheight:100% html,bodyheight:100% html,bodyheight:100% html,bodyheight:100% html,bodyheight:100% html,bodyheight:100% html,bodyhe spanheight:1.5em;text-align:center;font:48px/1.5 sans-serif;color:white;text-shadow:0 0 0.5em black;text-shadow:0 0 0.5em black;text-shadow:0 0 0.5em black;text-shadow:0 0 0.5em black;text-shadow:0 0 0.5em black;text-shadow
Magic Johnson would have made enough money thanks to his innate basketball abilities to place himself in a good financial situation. He was able to push things to the next level, though, thanks to a few prominent acquaintances.
“A Black guy in Lansing, Michigan truly altered my life,” the Lakers icon told TSN’s Kayla Grey. “At first, it was just all NBA.” “All I wanted to do was make it to the NBA.” And when he showed me that we could all be company owners and that he had a lot of them, I said, “Hey, I want to do that too.” So, first and foremost, I wanted to play in the NBA, and then I wanted to become a businessman.”
While it’s unclear when Johnson got that epiphany, it’s reasonable to assume he achieved his objective. Aside from his illustrious basketball career, the guard has amassed a sizable business empire. “He or his firms owned or owned over 100 Starbucks stores, dozens of Burger King franchises, movie theaters, restaurants, a significant investment in a huge PepsiCo bottling factory, and several major urban real estate acquisitions and projects,” according to a Forbes article from 2021. He’s also kept involved in sports, having had (and then sold) a share in the Los Angeles Lakers before moving on to the Los Angeles Dodgers, LA Sparks, and the Major League Soccer’s LAFC.
Despite his success, Magic hasn’t forgotten the individual (or persons) who made a difference in his life.
“I was overjoyed when [They Call Me Magic] debuted here in Los Angeles,” Johnson concluded. “He took off. And I was able to express my gratitude to him. Because of two individuals named Joel Ferguson and Greg Eaton, who completely transformed my life. That is why I am the CEO of this company. That’s probably why I had amazing mentors in my life, which is one of the reasons I had the life I had.”
In an age of’shut up and dribble,’ Magic’s narrative seems even more prophetic.
I went back to Lansing, MI to attend a dinner honoring my mentor Joel Ferguson. Thank you to both Joel Ferguson and Greg Eaton, because I wouldn’t be the businessman I am today without them! pic.twitter.com/EADVAvxGsL
— Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) October 24, 2021
If you’ve followed sports for a long time, you’ve undoubtedly heard expressions like “stick to sports” and “shut up and dribble.” Magic Johnson’s experience, on the other hand, demonstrates the limitations of such viewpoints.
At its most fundamental level, restricting athletes to sports eliminates many chances for good. Sticking with Magic, according to a 2014 CNN story, his organization generated more than $20 million for charity and donated almost $4 million in scholarships. MJ Enterprises was also utilized to help “different communities, introducing high-quality enterprises to minority regions normally underserved by bigger organizations.” Even if those figures have shifted somewhat over time, it’s still a lot of good work that would be lost if the guard was satisfied to just play hoops.
For more recent cases, the same may be true. Take, for example, LeBron James, who was famously advised to “shut up and dribble.” Isn’t it a net plus that the guard utilizes part of his riches to give back, even if you don’t like him from a sports or political standpoint?
CryptoCom has secured a multi-year relationship with LeBron James and his charity.
The agreement will assist 1,600 students at James’ I Promise school in learning about cryptography and associated job possibilities.
“I want to ensure that communities like the one I come from are not left behind” pic.twitter.com/zEOUSfdRLi
— Front Office Sports (@FOS) January 28, 2022
The second portion of Magic’s comment, though, is very noteworthy. We can all relate to his remarks about having good role models or, to use his precise terminology, mentors.
I’m going to assume you’re a sports enthusiast based on the fact that you’re reading this. That implies you probably had at least one childhood idol, whether it Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, or someone else. You wanted to be just like them when you grew up, as the cliché goes.
While most of us will not be able to become professional athletes, we may still learn from them. Spencer Dinwiddie might be the spark that sparks someone’s interest in the business sector. Perhaps hearing Steve Kerr or Gregg Popovich discuss politics would strike a chord with a Warriors or Spurs fan. Moe Harkless may not be a game-changer, but he may inspire someone to recognize that art is for everyone, not just European males from centuries ago.
That may seem a little Pollyanna-ish, with its “everyone gets a trophy” language, but let’s look at it from a practical standpoint.
Professional athletes, like Magic Johnson and a slew of others have shown, are human individuals with various interests. They also have a large audience and the ability to influence others. We shouldn’t, at the very least, tell them what they can and can’t do. In the best-case scenario, people may utilize their passions to make a beneficial difference in the world.
Magic Johnson credits two unlikely heroes for saving his life after being diagnosed with HIV: ‘I thought I was going to die,’ says the narrator.
Related Tags
- when did magic johnson retire
- magic johnson wife
- magic johnson height
