Jennifer Cooper, E!Attention, football fans!
In today's specially-themed sports edition of Trendsetters at Work, we had the opportunity to catch up with former NFL stars Charles Fisher and John Thornton, who both work at Octagon, one of the world's most influential sports and entertainment management companies.
Charles is the director of business development and John is the director of client management, and both represent major football players. Charles and John have a unique perspective on the job, because they both used to be NFL player themselves. John played for the Tennessee Titans and the Cincinnati Bengals, and Charles also played for the Bengals.
The two eventually formed their own management business, JockBiz Sports, before they started at the football division of Octagon. We picked their brains, finding out what a day in the life of sports management is like.
So heat up a plate of nachos (or whatever your favorite game day snack is), and keep reading!
What was the very first job you ever had?
CF: I'm embarrassed to say this because I have played football my entire life, but my first job at the age of 15 was as a model for a talent agency and style squad in Pittsburgh, PA.
JT: It was on the state roads of West Virginia. I swept the highways during summer vacation in college.
How did you get started in your career?
CF: After playing in the NFL and working in the league as a scout, John Thornton and myself saw a niche and decided to start our own company called Jockbiz. The creation and success of Jockbiz led to my current position at Octagon.
JT: I started managing players the day I retired. One of the guys I played with let me manage his career, former Bengals DE Frostee Rucker.
How has being a former NFL player helped you in your job off the field now?
CF: I have walked in the shoes of my clients on and off the field, so helping them develop and navigate through their careers is second nature. The majority of professionals working in this field can tell a player how to do something, but has never actually lived it themselves. That's where being a former player with an understanding of what clients are going through creates a different dynamic.
JT: I know what the players are going through. And what they will go through. And what lies ahead after the players retire.
Who are some of your career/life heroes?
CF: I draw my inspiration from family and friends. My mother Wanda and father Charles individually both have unbelievable work ethics that I still marvel at. My grandmother Carol is my life hero and my grandfather played in the NFL, which led the way athletically for me.
JT: I looked up to guys like DL Reggie White, QB Steve McNair, and Bengals HC Marvin Lewis.
What's a typical workday like for you?
CF: Luckily, there is no typical day for me. Half of my time is spent boarding an airplane to another work location. Other days I start early with a brainstorming session with John Thornton, followed by emails, calls with clients, and marketing strategy meetings. I watch hundreds of game tapes and attend football games on the weekend. No matter what the workday holds for me, I always find time to get a workout in.
JT: I get up around 6am and get my oldest son up for school. I go to the gym at 7:15am after I drop him off. I'm back in my home office by 10am. I follow up with the players I'm recruiting, and watch a few college football games that I DVRed. I reach out to my clients currently in the NFL to see how they are doing. Then at 3:30pm, I pick up my youngest son from school. At 4pm I watch latest sports updates on TV to see what happened in the day of football.
Who are some of the clients you work with?
CF & JT: Michael Johnson (defensive end for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers), Aaron Dobson (wide receiver for the New England Patriots), Geno Smith (quarterback for the New York Jets—who we advise in partnership with Roc Nation), Hue Jackson (offensive coordinator for the Cincinnati Bengals), Isaiah Pead (running back for the St. Louis Rams), Adrien Robinson (tight end for the New York Giants), Chris Neild (defensive tackle for the Washington Redskins).
What's the best piece of career advice you've ever received?
CF: When I was 19 I asked my father when he was going to take a day off from work. He replied that he had not taken a day off in four years. I laughed thinking this man is seriously crazy, he responded: Get off your butt if you plan to be rich, and it resonated quickly. Treat each day likes it's your first day of a new internship. Stay hungry and humble.
JT: The best piece of career advice I've ever received is to stick to your principals at all times.
What's the biggest everyday challenge of your job? The biggest reward?
CF: The biggest challenge is earning the trust of clients and their circle of trust. The biggest reward by far is helping clients turn their dreams into reality.
JT: The biggest challenge is working too hard and forgetting to make time for my family. I try to balance things. The biggest reward is seeing my clients happy and when things play out the way we predicted.
Favorite place to watch a football game?
CF: Seattle Washington. The atmosphere and 12th man (Seattle's fans) are insane. You will never see a more sophisticated, yet insanely loud fan base anywhere in the world. The Seattle fans hold the Guinness Book of World Records record for crowd noise. Plug your ears up when you visit.
JT: I like watching games at MetLife Stadium in NY/NJ. They have the nicest club section I've ever been to. Plush stadium.
What do you typically wear to work?
CF: Jeans, a nice shirt and leather John Varvatos Chucks in all colors. I will get clean and put on a suit with a textured tie during a final meeting.
JT: Totally casual since I work out of home office. I'm in in the Octagon offices I'll wear jeans and a polo shirt. I'll put on a suit for business meetings and meetings with players.
Finish This sentence…With Charles!
Today for lunch I had…Chicken Noodle soup and freshly squeezed orange juice.
My must-have work gadget is…My iPhone.
My usual Starbucks order is...Weird thing is I don't go to Starbucks. I've lived in Seattle for seven years and never once drank a coffee there.
If I wasn't doing this job, I would be…Working back in the NFL.
The best part of my job is…The people I work with. I don't ever feel like I'm actually working.
Finish This sentence…With John!
Today for lunch I had…Salad with turkey and cheese.
My must-have work gadget is… iPhone
My usual Starbucks order is…Iced venti skinny vanilla latte
If I wasn't doing this job, I would be…Working in the media. TV/Radio.
The best part of my job is…I get to stay around the game of football and help others. 20 years as a NFL player and this is my 5th year as a manager/agent. I look for many more years in this business.
*Be sure to watch the video below and see Charles and John in action on the job!