Today we’d like to introduce you to Juanita Bryan.
Hi Juanita, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Twenty years ago this summer, I retired from Sony Corporation of America. After a 20-year tenure, I had just reached the point in my life where I needed introspection, and as painful as it was, the conclusion was that my job at Sony was rewarding, but I did not love what I was doing.
After some thought, I accepted an early retirement. My desire was to become an entrepreneur. It is safe to say that my desire was only a dream, as I did not plan properly. I was pretty much living off of my savings. I will never forget the sting of waking up one day to find that my bank account/savings was perilously close to where it should not be. Let’s say that I learned some valuable lessons from that period in my life, and the experience lit a fire underneath me. Important takeaway—don’t quit your day job; until you are well-prepared.
My administration and sales experience at Sony pushed me in the right direction to start an event planning business. It’s funny, I always dreamed of being an entrepreneur since I was a little girl; and as lovely as it sounds to work for yourself, it was a long and tough road. As a new and energetic entrepreneur, I worked morning, noon, and night. I knew that I had to succeed because there was no backup plan. I will say that the challenge made me stronger and more resilient.
I met my husband, Claude in 2005; we dated for a brief period and were married a few months later. Claude had started a business in Sports Management for the sport of Track & Field a decade prior, and with my business experience, it just made sense for us to work together to build the business. With my husband as my business partner, I serve as Vice President of On Track Management, Inc., additionally, I am a certified Athlete Representative sanctioned by the World Athletics Federation. Today our business is one of the 10 top sports management businesses in the sport of track & field.
In my current role as an Athlete Representative, I am blessed with the opportunity to travel the world. So far, I have traveled to 40 countries (and counting). My love for travel, along with a desire to encourage youth and a passion for writing, I penned my first series of children’s books, “Vanessa-Fei, The Girl Who Could Touch the Sky.” My desire is to give my travel experience to the children reading these books through the eyes of Vanessa-Fei.
Another passion of mine is watching films/documentaries. I have always been an avid film enthusiast. I also love old classic movies, as well as reality tv. My dream is to produce a successful film. I am currently aligned with some prominent people in the industry, and we have a couple of projects in the works. Hopefully, my dream will be materialized in the very near future.
I acknowledge that I am a person who has made many mistakes, and after all these years, I have learned and grown from those experiences. My past speaks for itself. I am absolutely determined that I should not have done anything different. I believe because of my past, I am able to now do what I love. I feel as long as I keep the integrity, my Christian faith, my joy and my passion for whatever I am doing —it will be successful.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
The obstacles that I faced in the past are no longer an issue for me. The journey from working a corporate job to becoming an entrepreneur has its own obstacles and challenges. One of the challenges I struggle with today is delegation, simply because I have been burned in the past. I have learned that trying to do everything myself results in frequent work backlogs, occasional missed deadlines, and the feeling of being overwhelmed.
My last assistant was, as I called her, a mini version of me. She was amazing. After working together for a year, she made the decision to return to graduate school to study sports/entertainment law. Today, she is a successful attorney working for a major firm. After her departure, It was, and remains, difficult to find the right fit; someone who thinks like an entrepreneur, is skilled in business relations, self-motivated, and loyal.
While it may seem impossible at times to get everything done, I find that diligent planning and maintaining organization helps me to overcome most obstacles.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
On Track Management, Inc., is a sports management and consulting company for the sport of Track & Field; building legacies for world-class talent. We pride ourselves on providing “Gold Level” service to all of our clients regardless of their athletic success. We use a hands-on approach to managing, which means we are available to them 24-7 for sports-related and non-sports related business. To put it simply, we go above and beyond to provide the best service for our clients.
Networking and finding a mentor can have such a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
I consider myself somewhat of a pro at networking. I can walk into any event full of confidence, even when I’m honestly not feeling so confident. Once there, I am ready to engage…
These tips help me when networking…
I arrive to the event early with a clear goal in mind. This allows me to prepare effectively and keeps me focused during the event. If I know in advance who will be at this event, I am clear about who I want to meet and why. If I leave the event with at least ten leads, I have accomplished my goal.
I have conversation starters/topics on the ready. My first connection is typically the person who seems to have also come to the event alone. I see it as a chance to get warmed up. Also, to relieve some of the awkwardness, I lead the conversation with relevant and planned starters to get it going. The first encounter gave me more confidence to interact with others.
When introducing myself, I approach the person with confidence. I usually start out by saying something thought-provoking they can relate to. (Your prepared conversation starters will apply here).
Everybody likes to feel important—I know I do; and I have learned that showing genuine interest in another person can say more about me than talking about myself could ever do. I try to make the other person the topic of the conversation—asking them about themselves.
I make it a point to ask questions – it shows that I am engaged and interested in what the other person has to say.
If I am lucky enough to get their contact information, I make mental notes and add them to my address book; for example, I will add the place/date we met and anything else about them that I would like to remember. This way, I am prepared if there is another encounter with them.
After you’ve conversed with someone for a while and there is a lull in the conversation, exit the conversation gracefully. I will say something like, “Thank you for your time—I look forward to keeping in touch,” or close with whatever was the subject of the conversation; “Hope you enjoy your trip; I look forward to hearing from you when you return.”
Lastly, I always follow up with an email within 24 hours of the event to make a lasting impression.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.ontrackmanagement.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ontrackmgnt/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/juanitam.bryan/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/juanita-m-bryan-1538181b/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/ontrackmgnt
Image Credits
Errol Anderson Terrance Culver Winn Walker
