{"version":1,"type":"rich","provider_name":"Libsyn","provider_url":"https:\/\/www.libsyn.com","height":90,"width":600,"title":"Athlete and Entrepreneur with Sonya Looney","description":"Show Notes: www.IntrepidEntrepreneur.net\/Sonya-Looney\/ So much has changed in how we market and sell products over the past few years.  It\u2019s not just about using social media, but about understanding what customers want from the brands they support. I\u2019m sitting down with Sonya Looney, World Champion Cyclist, writer, speaker, and adventure seeker. We\u2019re talking about how she has re-designed and re-written the relationship between athletes and sponsoring companies.  Sonya\u2019s sharing how she got into cycling, and how that passion led her to leave her career twice to become an entrepreneur. We\u2019re getting into what companies should look for in the athletes they sponsor, and how athletes can market themselves better. It\u2019s not just about results!  This is a great episode for anyone looking to build their brand, or maybe even sponsor an athlete. Bravery and Business Quote \u201cIf you do the things that you love and put everything into it, it\u2019s going to grow in ways that you never could have imagined\u201d  Sonya Looney (click to tweet)   The Cliff Notes Acknowledge what makes you excited. Sonya was working for a start-up and realized she loved the marketing side of things more than her job as an engineer. Protect your priorities. If a job or hobby is getting in the way of what you\u2019re passionate about, find a way to rearrange. Don\u2019t be afraid to pivot in your career. Just because you\u2019ve spent years growing in it, or getting a degree doesn\u2019t mean you should stay if you\u2019re not happy. Look for partners that have the same passion and following\/ clients as you. What brands are attracting the same kind of community that you want to be a part of? Pay attention to what makes other people good at their jobs. Even people in other markets, what makes them so effective? Pull those things into your practice. Focus on two way communication. Respond to people who engage with you on social media, and keep track of what they\u2019re enjoying. Do what you love and believe in. If you\u2019re working hard towards what you\u2019re passionate about, people will take notice and stay connected. Worry less about an athlete\u2019s racing results than about what they can bring to your product. What can this athlete\u2019s personality and following bring to your company? \u201cIt\u2019s not just about putting content out there, it\u2019s about responding to every person that you can that\u2019s engaging with you\u201d  Sonya Looney\u201c (click to tweet)   Resources   Sonya Looney\u2019s Website Sonya Looney on TED Talk   Show Notes: www.IntrepidEntrepreneur.net\/Sonya-Looney\/   ","author_name":"The Intrepid Entrepreneur","author_url":"http:\/\/www.livinguber.com","html":"