John Fieberg
All right, here we go. How much fun is this going to be? We got a half an hour with two great gentlemen. Thank you, first and foremost, for being here. Couldn't be happier to be here today with the two of you, and I know this audience is going to be left a lot better than we found them here.
So we want to talk maybe about three things and get your perspective around that, around the areas maybe of success, leadership and then what impact means for you. So, DeMarcus, why don't we start with you? And maybe if you could talk a little bit about your mindset and what kind of separates you in the NFL and not only maybe how you prepare for games, but maybe sometimes when you have to make those in-game changes.
DeMarcus Lawrence
First and foremost, I feel what prepares me is my mindset, like you said, how I look at things is through this key concept: alignment, assignment, key technique, finish, finish, finish. And with that mindset, I was able to articulate it into business, you know, making sure I'm aligned in business, you know, with the purpose and, you know, what I'm going for.
Same thing with football, making sure I'm aligned. But where my position is, as a defensive end, my assignment means that I have to control the outside edge of the defense. Having to understand like both are contact sports and being able to use that concept to, you know, drive myself in football and into business. That's how I look at it.
John Fieberg
Thank you for that. Paul might turn to you here. So many of the people here today are business owners. They're trying to improve what they're doing not only for their customers and clients. But I have to believe that in some of the routines that you have, some of the process that you're working through with the team, that you have kind of a system that's an operating system for you.
Maybe if you could share with the audience a little bit about how you prep and what's then made you successful.
Paul Rothrock
Yeah, I think routines are an interesting thing because they can … they can be really valuable and they can also feel like prisons sometimes. So, I think my approach to things has always been, how can I have a routine that allows me to always operate in that, like, optimal level but also give myself time to still be a human being and have time for my family and, you know, occasionally have a glass of wine with my partner.
And so, for me, it's been finding that balance of, you know, I still have those like non-negotiables of, you know, what time I show up to training and my, my daily preparation with my body and what I'm eating every day, but also then, you know, finding the times and being aware of when, you know, maybe I need to rest a little bit more this week.
So yeah, just constantly checking in and … and also still having those non-negotiables.
John Fieberg
So how do you not only stay in the moment and where you are in life, but have that balance of then planning for the later stages of career, whether it be retirement financially, whether it be retirement from a professional sports component? I'd be curious as far as how the two of you think about that, because clearly, to DeMarcus, if you lose concentration on one play and some guys coming over the middle, it's a whole different story than me kind of zoning out for a few minutes in an office one day.
How do you balance that, the current moment, but yet keeping an eye on the future?
DeMarcus Lawrence
Luckily, football is played at such a high speed that, you know, your attention span is way longer than five seconds and a regular play only lasts but five seconds. So having football, you know, it's … it's actually, you know, a good and a bad thing because life doesn't move that way. And, and now, you know, you know, going through the transition of being, you know, a full-time dad and, you know, also having business, but also, you know, being a football player, it's really, you know, just basically how you structure your time, you know, like Paul said, having your non-negotiables. But how do I stay focused when a play is moving fast? It's just training, you know, just being able to trust your training, knowing that, you know, you don't have scenarios and situations like this before, you know, that, you know, you should be able to dial back into your memory and know that, you know, you're able to handle the moment.
Paul Rothrock
Yeah. You brought up a point earlier about alignment. I feel like that's … that's crucial in all of this because I think the question presents, like, a difficult challenge for athletes where your .. your career is limited and could also end at any moment with the tackle or, or whatever, but you're simultaneously balancing this like force where you have to be present all the time, and, especially in the games, you've got to be, you've got to stay within that moment, but then but also you're…it's finite, and my career is going to end at some point his career is going to end at some point, and so obviously, you … you have those anxieties and you think about things after. And, but I, I go back to that word alignment because I think if you're surrounding yourself with good people and people who have your best interests at heart and, you know, people in your community, I think things just naturally start, you know, offering themselves up to you and … and you just start taking the next right step in front of you.
John Fieberg
For many of the advisors here in this audience, we kind of serve a role as kind of a coach but then to provide some leadership. I'd be curious to maybe get your thoughts as far as what sort of style of coaching do you react best to? And when you're looking at that from a leadership standpoint, what are you wanting from that coach?
DeMarcus Lawrence
For me, I don't have no financial advice for anybody in the crowd today. So, but when it comes to leadership, the type of coaching that I look for is … is somebody that's stern, but also somebody that can … can live by that example, meaning, like, you know, not just, you know, tell me how to do things, but actually get down and dirty with me and show me how things are supposed to be.
Paul Rothrock
Yeah, I feel like I've had a lot of different coaches throughout my career, and they're all a little unique. And I think what … what distinguishes a really good coach from a not so good one is just how they set standards, kind of like you said, how they hold people accountable when they hold people accountable, the moments that they choose to do that, and each person's different too, so each person requires a different tactic, a different way of approaching them. And yeah.
John Fieberg
So it sounds like both of you are proponents of that old quote, “You don't rise to the occasion, but you fall to the way your training has gone.” I love it.
Let's make a transition a little bit to some of the leadership that you've both done on some of the businesses outside of your playing careers. First of all, what made you take that step to go down that path?
And then second, how are you leading in that space, and what does that look like for maybe the next step after the playing career is done?
DeMarcus Lawrence
Yeah, for me, I never wanted to be known as just a football player. So when I was in school, I took it serious. And now I'm at the point where, you know, I'm embarking on the end of my career, and it's like, if I leave myself with only football, then that's what I'm going to be remembered for. So now that I'm in the, you know, business space, it's more of like, I don't I don't need, you know, capital or I don't need, you know, to solve problems; I just need to do, you know, what I'm interested in. And with 90 Studios, our multimedia company, now I'm able to produce anime, you know, I'm a big anime fan, you know, for the guys and ladies that don't understand, but anime is cartoons. And, you know, with that, you know, now I'm able to express myself but also tell my stories into an animated version that doesn't require, you know, real people or, you know, all the different camera work and stuff.
So, just being able to put my creativity in something that, you know, I love, that's what my business is really all about.
Paul Rothrock
Yeah, I feel like I'm in a different place from DeMarcus a little bit. I hope I can play as long as you have. It's pretty impressive that this guy is still playing at 34. But yeah, I was a … I was a free agent this last year and had the option to, you know, look at some other places. And ultimately I decided to stay in Seattle because, because … because of you guys, because of the community here, because of, you know, the opportunity to be somebody who's from here and to … to represent something bigger than myself. And, and the … the depth of … of and richness that that provides you in life, like, I think, the money can't put a price on that.
And so, you know, for me, staying here, my plan on investing myself deeper and deeper into the community, and I think as an athlete, you have a unique privilege to do that and also a platform. And, you know, the effect that you can have on people and communities is … is special.
John Fieberg
So along those lines, and DeMarcus, we saw your son here earlier today, I'd be curious from that, when you're thinking about, you know, the impact that you want to leave, obviously it's very easy to do that with children, obviously easy to do with teammates and families – if you had maybe one or two things that you're trying to impart to others, what are you trying to leave when … when this thing moves forward over time?
DeMarcus Lawrence
Well, the first thing I'm trying to leave is helping my sons understand that football is not the family business. I feel like I've only been playing the game of football so long, and they was brought up into this world, they look at dad and like, ah, that must be easy. But, you know, to that point, like, I think, you know, what I'm trying to leave is, you know, hard work and dedication, just, you know, continuing to, you know, keep my head down and pushing forward, knowing that even though you reach the top of that mountain, it's so many more mountains that you had to climb in this world, and I'm not done climbing.
Paul Rothrock
It's really special seeing the joy that you can bring to a city and the people that you can inspire. And I remember being in the streets when you guys won the Super Bowl and how special that was and, you know, just the way it, like, lights a city on fire, I think is … is something really unique to sports.
If there's something for me to leave, you know, I would, I'd go back to that word joy. I hope that I can inspire, you know, joy in other people.
John Fieberg
So, think about the success that both of you have had in your life, and it's pretty damn impressive. I can't imagine that kid from Aiken, South Carolina, would think that someday, he'd be on some barge talking to people – five time Pro Bowler, winner of a Super Bowl and playing for one of the great franchises in the country.
And then, Paul, I think about the transition that you've had to win a national title in college at Georgetown, the travails and triumphs that you've had in this career, even in the short period of time, and then to find a home here and to really blossom here with the Sounders. Maybe if you could take a minute or two and just kind of one last parting thought for this crowd, as far as when you think of success and hard work and what that legacy for you might be, maybe one thing that you could leave these folks.
Paul Rothrock
Yeah, I think growing up here and and being … being a fan first in Seattle, when I think about legacy, I think, you know, certain people come to mind. I think about Sue Bird, Edgar Martinez, Marshawn Lynch, Ichiro, you know, Nico Lodeiro and you know, when I, when I think about those people, what … what stands out, I think, is authenticity.
They were … they were able to craft a career for themselves in a place that really resonated with their identity too, and you know, the city became a part of them, and they became a part of the city. And that's what I would like to leave here. I think I've got a lot of people around me, too, to look up to.
So, yeah, I would say that, you know, really, being authentic in in who I am in my craft and being able to share that with people and with my city and I … I hope to leave that with you guys when I'm, when I'm finished.
DeMarcus Lawrence
Yeah. I say for myself, it's more of the community and memories, you know, being able to build a community up here in Seattle but also, you know, make special memories with good people. I feel like, you know, that speaks volumes, you know, of your legacy, you know, and also, you know, just being a part of the community. Like, I have a lot of kids myself, but I love kids in general, so, you know, just being able to help them grow, give some of the knowledge that I learned from playing football or just in life in general, you know, back to them, I feel that's special and how I want to leave my legacy.
John Fieberg
Well, thank you both for this time and perspective. Edward Jones is a firm that goes back now 104 years, and a lot of the work that we have done as a company is exactly this sort of thing. It's relationships with people on a one to one basis, and it's a culture that we're trying to continue to improve on every day.
It is not lost on us that you folks, as clients, have given us a number of your resources. You've given us your time. You've put your trust in us. And let's be frank, you've given us your hard-earned dollars to then put that to work over time to benefit you and your family. That does not go lightly at our firm.
So thank you for those three things that you have given us. And I cannot tell you how much this event shows the culture that we have at this firm. I know that your financial advisors today are incredibly excited about what they're able to do, to talk through conversations and then hopefully set the stage for some great things in the future.