304. Changing the Game: Embracing Your Differences for Positive Change with Tajay Ashmeade
Our guest today is Tajay "TJ" Ashmeade, a former Division One Olympic and professional basketball player. Despite a challenging youth, TJ is now a public speaker, coach, and tech entrepreneur, and she's on a mission to help athletes succeed beyond sports.
TJ's journey to success was not easy. After getting involved with the wrong crowd she ended up getting shot, but that didn’t change her path. It wasn’t until she realized her younger brother was following in her footsteps, and once he was shot, she needed to shift her life and began to pursue sports.
She was placed in special education and was called stupid, but she changed the narrative of the word STUPID to Strength, Toughness, Understanding, Persistence, Identity, and Determination. TJ's hard work and determination paid off when she became the number one rebounder in the Big East Conference.
After her playing career ended, TJ had a plan and was already working on her first master's degree from the University of Phoenix. She emphasizes the importance of having a plan when transitioning from professional sports and encourages athletes to take notes from mentors, even if they are not physical people in their life.
TJ's passion for helping athletes led her to create a sports technology company called Nurture SPRT. The company provides a job board for athletes, access to sports psychologists, and resources for high school athletes to find the right college for them. TJ also has a sports leadership consultancy that helps athletes directly.
The Biggest Helping: Today’s Most Important Takeaway
“Move with intention. Move with intent every single day.”
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Resources:
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Learn more at tajayashmeade.com
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Follow TJ on Instagram: @tajayashmeade
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Follow Nurture SPRT on Instagram: @nurturesprt
Produced by Nova Media