#123: Junior Bridgeman, former NBA player and leading entrepreneur – Go farther together

Today’s guest is Junior Bridgeman, a former NBA player who’s now one of the greatest entrepreneurs in our country.

When he retired from the NBA after twelve years, he jumped headfirst into the restaurant business. He eventually owned 450 Wendy’s locations all over the country. And now he's doing it all again, becoming one of the leading Coke bottlers in the U.S. and all of Canada. 

And if all that weren’t enough, in 2020, he surprised a lot of people when he bought Jet and Ebony after they went into bankruptcy. But as you’ll hear him talk about, Junior sees the opportunity to preserve and amplify the stories those magazines have told over the years – something that’s so important year round but is especially top of mind right now during Black History Month. 

In fact, Junior was recently honored with Louisville’s prestigious Keepers of the Dream Freedom Award for all the ways he exemplifies the ideals of Martin Luther King, Jr.

So, it’s easy to see why Junior Bridgeman is the real deal!

And at every step along the way – from playing basketball, to serving his community, to building these incredibly successful businesses – he is ALL about the power of teamwork. 

As leaders, we use the word “team” a lot, but when you listen to Junior, you realize that true teamwork doesn’t just happen because you’ve assembled a group of people together. It has to be nurtured and led.

You’ll hear exactly what Junior does to create that kind of teamwork-driven culture where people feel cared for, and where they’re motivated to go farther, together, than they ever could have by themselves.

You’ll also learn:

• The practical strategy he used to turn around low-performing stores
• Advice for leaders who are naturally quiet or introverted
• How to build a culture where people are truly cared for
• The key mindset shift every entrepreneur needs to be successful
• Behind-the-scenes stories of playing with some NBA legends of the 70s and 80s

Take your learning further. Get proven leadership advice from these (free!) resources:

The How Leaders Lead App: A vast library of 90-second leadership lessons to stay sharp on the go 

Daily Insight Emails: One small (but powerful!) leadership principle to focus on each day

Whichever you choose, you can be sure you’ll get the trusted leadership advice you need to advance your career, develop your team, and grow your business.