Monday, March 9, 2009

How To Be An Athlete Agent Like Leigh Steinberg

By Kimbro Gonzales

If you are into sports at all then you surely have heard of athlete agent Leigh Steinberg. His clients include some of the biggest names in the NFL, NBA and MBL. From Oscar De La Hoya to Troy Aikman, Leigh Steinberg is known as one of the best athlete agents in America. So how did he do it? And how can you follow in his footsteps to become an athlete agent like him?

Steinberg has been in the business for over 33 years and has represented the number 1 NFL draft pick eight times during his career. This is no small feat for any agent-- in fact it is a record. Leighs advice to anyone looking to advance their career is to Be open to the amazing changes which are occurring in the field that interest you. It is soooooo necessary to get the basic skills, because by the time you graduate, undergraduate or graduate, that field would have totally changed from your first day of school. This is wise advice from a wise man.

You must be able to negotiate and to market. You have to be able to market your skills and your assets to your potential clients. Leigh has some thoughts about this too. Never underestimate the capacity of another human being to have exactly the same shortcomings you have. You need to have the confidence and will to sell yourself. After you have sold yourself, even to just one client-- you need to sell them.

Being an athlete agent is all about marketing, promotions and negotiating. You need to be able to make a team, a business, a potential endorsement company believe they cant live without you or your client. It is all about good publicity. Once you can list all of the amazing things that you can do for a client and that your client can do for the potential contracts then you are on a roll.

After you have marketed yourself successfully you then need to be able to market your clients to teams, endorsement possibilities and for charitable and other personal appearances. The more your client is seen by the public the more they are wanted. Leigh Steinberg is an expert at getting good press for his clients. This helps in any negotiations he needs to do in the future.

Negotiating is the biggest part of an athlete agents life. You will be forever negotiating. Whether it is with your client, sports organizations, over contracts, with the business world over endorsement opportunities or any of the other contract issues that arise. Negotiating is a skill that you will use daily in your career as an athlete agent.

The most reputable sports management degree programs in America are offered at Umass, Bowling Green State University and Ohio University. They are respected and will give you the information, education and background that will help you be successful in the field of sports management. A good education, a love and knowledge of sports, determination, confidence and great marketing skills can lead to a brilliant career like Leigh Steinberg as an athlete agent.

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