full

full
Published on:

13th Sep 2024

Building a Global Brand with Mike Brown | From College Basketball to Hoop Culture

In this episode, James Blasco speaks with Mike Brown, the founder of Hoop Culture, a basketball brand that’s taking the world by storm. From his early days as a high school and college basketball player to launching a global brand, Mike shares his incredible journey of perseverance, growth, and entrepreneurship. He opens up about how Hoop Culture started from humble beginnings with just a few t-shirts and how it evolved into a top basketball apparel company. Mike also discusses the importance of mental toughness, the challenges of building a brand, and how he continues to connect with his audience. Whether you're an aspiring entrepreneur or just a fan of basketball, this episode offers valuable insights into brand-building, resilience, and staying true to your mission.

Key Timestamps:

  • (00:00) Introduction to Charge Forward Coaching and Mike Brown’s journey
  • (01:00) Mike’s early basketball career, from high school to college and the lessons learned
  • (03:00) The origins of Hoop Culture: From helping athletes connect to creating a basketball brand
  • (05:30) How Mike pivoted from Hoop Connection to Hoop Culture
  • (07:30) Challenges in the early years and learning to monetize the brand
  • (09:00) Expanding the brand through social media and online sales
  • (12:00) How Mike maintains authenticity while growing the brand
  • (14:00) The importance of staying connected with the youth market and the growing influence of Hoop Culture
  • (16:00) Working with NBA athletes and expanding product lines into uniforms
  • (18:00) Building mental toughness in business: How basketball principles apply to entrepreneurship
  • (21:00) Advice for aspiring entrepreneurs: Sacrifices and the grind behind success
  • (23:30) Mike’s vision for the future of Hoop Culture and how he plans to keep growing globally

Key Takeaways:

  • Mental toughness in entrepreneurship is about persistence and overcoming challenges, much like in basketball. Mike emphasizes resilience and confidence as essential to pushing through adversity.
  • Building a global brand requires both passion and patience. The journey may start slow, but consistency and commitment to your craft lead to long-term success.
  • Authenticity is key to connecting with your audience. Mike continues to stay grounded by remembering where Hoop Culture began and how it resonated with the grassroots community.
  • Entrepreneurship is a grind. Sacrifices are inevitable, and the path to success is often longer than expected, but the payoff is worth it when you stay committed.

Bio:

Mike Brown is the founder of Hoop Culture, a global basketball apparel brand that has become a cultural movement within the basketball community. Starting his journey as a high school and college basketball player, Mike transitioned his passion for the game into a successful business, creating a brand that resonates with athletes and basketball fans worldwide. Known for its inspirational designs and deep connection to basketball culture, Hoop Culture has collaborated with NBA athletes and expanded into team uniforms, solidifying its place in the world of sports fashion. Mike’s story is one of perseverance, resilience, and an unwavering commitment to his vision.

James Blasco, Charge Forward Coaching, sports coaching, mental mindset, Mental Toughness, Growth Mindset, Athletes, basketball apparel, Hoop Culture, entrepreneurship, basketball brand, youth basketball, NBA athletes, brand growth, family business, resilience, sports fashion

Transcript

James Blasco: [:

tball player to a successful [:

James Blasco: So let's get started. Mike, welcome to the show.

Mike Brown: Yeah, it's an honor. I appreciate it.

ou are now, you started as a [:

ousand points in high school,:

Mike Brown: Yeah, I mean it's a blessing to be able to play the game that I love so much. I fell in love with it at a young age.

as one of those things where [:

And honestly, like I didn't [:

like, a pivotal point in my [:

nd for you to do that is, is [:

ateful for the game because. [:

to college and end up with a [:

into it. And so I wanted to [:

as so long ago now to create [:

the business at that point. [:

sports specific brand. And I [:

God and there's so many more [:

emember traveling around. To [:

where people knew the brand [:

ng magical happens, and they [:

Hoop Connection and the Hoop [:

t year that I really started [:

I going to do now? You know, [:

now, how to like continue to [:

think timing has a lot to do [:

wn: And so it became kind of [:

keep the brand now as close? [:

d how do you keep that going [:

t We still attend events. We [:

k the ability to continue to [:

to where we are now. And we [:

Mike Brown: [:

h school, maybe younger, and [:

James Blasco: They starting to kind of see the brand is the brand resonating with them as well.

ving kids and they see us at [:

influencers and things like [:

you know those items and so [:

mo to be able to continue to [:

Mike Brown: Where I get [:

of maybe a little bit older [:

James Blasco: How does that feel?

caught up in, you know, who [:

Orlando Magic, I mean, it's [:

Mike Brown: To [:

everything you have in your [:

Mike Brown: Yeah. It's one of those things that it's challenging, right? Selling into other countries because of the shipping.

and where your products are [:

Blasco: So I know that this [:

u're there now. I think your [:

where being an entrepreneur [:

d when you have that support [:

rent drive You're looking at [:

but also to know how hard it [:

Mike Brown: I remember [:

t support around me to help, [:

James Blasco: Yeah, that that's really profound and special. There's a book by Don Perry's a sports psychologist and the book is called sports psychology.

James Blasco: And in [:

ou make a promise, you stick [:

ht be the most important, is [:

James Blasco: Does that fit? Does that make sense to you?

ame attributes that you have [:

to learn is is being able to [:

helps people on the, on the [:

e same way, and I think that [:

nfidence being the last one, [:

eally good, something really [:

James Blasco: Let's not get distracted by this because we still have a long way to go. You know, has that happened to you in this process?

ink it's one of those things [:

through the process, you're [:

f those things where. You're [:

Mike Brown: I was like, [:

d of successes you have, but [:

do you, what do you see hoop [:

re. It's one of those sports [:

rown: Um, we're just kind of [:

na have our products in, you [:

James Blasco: Yeah, I don't think anybody needs to be a rocket scientist to, to kind of see what you're seeing.

Mike Brown: Yeah,

e would you give to somebody [:

dy in those shoes right now? [:

o truly sacrifice for a long [:

ant because the sacrifice is [:

process, I mean, it's a real [:

Mike Brown: Where [:

James Blasco: Yeah, absolutely. And you know, Mike, uh, you have you have a great story Uh, I've been able to kind of watch it from afar for many years, and you're an inspiration to me.

hers. Just listening to, uh, [:

nt to add before we wrap up? [:

Mike Brown: Yeah, I appreciate the opportunity to share my story. Um, there's not a lot of chances that I get at this moment to do so, so I'm very grateful for you and, and for always being a good friend.

social media, on Instagram, [:

Mike Brown: Like, I always love to, you know, give our feedback, the do's and don'ts. So, you know, I would love to welcome any questions, anything that I can help. Someone else it'd be my pleasure. So always feel free to hit me up anytime.

James Blasco: Yeah, for [:

James Blasco: Mike. Thanks again Don't forget to visit charge forward coaching. com everybody out there. Have a great day and keep charging forward

Next Episode All Episodes Previous Episode

Listen for free

Show artwork for Charge Forward Coaching

About the Podcast

Charge Forward Coaching
What if the key to unlocking your athletic potential wasn’t just about improving your skills, but strengthening your mind? At Charge Forward Coaching, we believe that mental toughness is the secret weapon every elite athlete needs to excel. In this podcast, we explore how athletes can develop the focus, resilience, and mindset necessary to perform at their best, whether you're a high school athlete facing intense competition or a college athlete aiming for the next level.

We explore essential topics such as mental resilience, providing techniques for overcoming self-doubt and building mental endurance. We also tackle performance anxiety, offering strategies to manage stress and stay focused under pressure. Throughout the show, we focus on mindset mastery, sharing tools to stay motivated, handle setbacks, and maintain peak performance. James Blasco offers expert advice on cultivating a champion's mindset for long-term success, helping athletes gain the mental clarity needed to perform at their highest level.

With expert guidance from James Blasco, each episode empowers athletes with actionable strategies they can apply immediately, enabling them to sharpen their focus, handle adversity, and perform under pressure. James’s coaching approach fosters a supportive and empowering environment, where athletes are encouraged to push beyond their comfort zones, embrace challenges, and unlock their full potential. In the world of elite sports, success goes far beyond physical ability—it’s about mastering the mental challenges that arise during competition and ensuring they are prepared to rise to the occasion when it matters most.

In addition to James’s insights, each episode features interviews with top athletes, coaches, and mental performance experts. These guests share their own stories, experiences, and strategies for achieving success in highly competitive environments. Through these conversations, listeners will gain diverse perspectives on how mental toughness plays a pivotal role in their journeys to excellence. Whether it’s learning from a former professional athlete about overcoming personal obstacles, or hearing a coach’s tips for developing a high-performance team mindset, these interviews will offer valuable knowledge and inspiration for athletes of all levels.
Join us on this journey to improve your concentration, boost your confidence, and develop the mindset necessary to reach new heights in your athletic career. Start listening today and begin charging forward toward your goals with mental clarity and strength.

About the Host:
James Blasco is a CTA Certified Coach, and a Certified Functional Mental Toughness and Resilience coach based in Ormond Beach, Florida, with a rich background in sales, media, and entrepreneurship. Throughout his career, James has excelled in sales and sales coaching for some of the largest media companies, owned three successful businesses, and worked in media relations in the NFL. His diverse experiences have equipped him with a deep understanding of leadership, communication, and the drive needed to achieve success. James is also trained specifically to coach to all aspects of mental toughness and resilience.
Having received coaching and mentoring throughout his personal and professional life, James recognizes the profound impact of genuine, constructive, and meaningful guidance. He understands the passion required to pursue a goal, as well as the challenges of doubt, fear, and the need for perseverance. James’s coaching philosophy is rooted in compassion and results, focusing on helping clients uncover their goals, develop actionable plans, and persist through obstacles.

Resources:
Website: www.chargeforwardcoaching.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/chargeforwardcoaching/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ChargeForwardCoaching/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ChargeForwardCoaching

About your host

Profile picture for James Blasco

James Blasco