Edgerrin James: 'Make Small Moves and Don't Rush'
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For UBS marketing purposes In his induction speech, James said the best decision he's made is "to bet on myself and to keep learning. I read nonstop. I’m my own man. I’ve always been my own person.” (ddp) Athletes and Entertainers Edgerrin James: 'Make small moves and don’t rush' 16 August 2021, 6:30 pm CEST, written by UBS Editorial Team Former Indianapolis Colts running back Edgerrin James was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame last week, delivering a moving speech as he accepted his place in Canton, Ohio's shrine for football's legends. James spoke about both negative and offensive stereotypes that others held toward him and how he was able to ignore the noise to construct a great NFL career. “People looked at my gold teeth and dreads and were shocked and surprised that I had never been arrested nor spent time in jail," James said. "So many people told me 'you couldn't have dreads and gold teeth and be accepted in the NFL'. I never listened." James was featured in the UBS Athletes and Entertainers white paper, titled ‘Star power, staying power’, which discussed not only his sports career, upbringing and financial success—but also his thirst for knowledge. "The best decision I’ve made is to bet on myself and to keep learning. I read nonstop. I’m my own man. I’ve always been my own person.” His steadfast belief in himself is something that James asserts is the foundation of his success. The most money Edgerrin ever made prior to signing his $49 million rookie contract with the Colts was the $20 he earned for each truckload of produce he picked during his teenage summers. The dramatic change in fortunes could have spelled financial disaster, but Edgerrin’s levelheadedness steered him in the right direction. “I didn’t grow up around people who made money, but whenever I see successful people, I dig into how they got successful.” For UBS marketing purposes He immersed himself in learning about how to manage his sudden, newfound wealth. Edgerrin’s advice is simple… “Don’t do anything or put your money into an investment until you educate yourself. Just because you have money doesn’t mean you know how to invest. Ask a lot of questions. You don’t need a degree in finance to get started. Make small moves and don’t rush.” “When you see people living life and having all these things, you ask ‘How and why?’ You start meeting these people and ask ‘Why can’t I have that? Why do I have to sit around and settle? They are no smarter than (me).’” While some people inherit wealth, Edgerrin observed that most successful people earn their own ways. “You have to read and have a lot of discipline. Success is not something far-fetched.” Once he started earning a significant salary in the NFL, Edgerrin was more interested in wealth preservation than assuming higher risks to grow his assets. “If you look at the statistics, you know football is a short-term career. It depends on your position and how good you are, but you can only play ball for so many years.” Edgerrin has made successful investments in commercial and residential real estate and various business ventures. He is president of ONE Enterprises, an umbrella company that holds investments in real estate. “What I love about business is that there is no ceiling, no cap. And you don’t have to be 6’8.” Edgerrin’s football career earnings gave him the jump start he needed to become an entrepreneur. “I took a business approach from day one of my football career. Everything I did, I had an end goal in mind. I played the game of football both because I loved it and because it helped take me out of poverty.” James was a four-time Pro Bowler who earned a spot on the Pro Football Hall of Fame's All-2000s team. He earned Associated Press Offensive Rookie of the Year honors in 1999 and led the league in rushing in 1999 and 2000. The former University of Miami star amassed 15,610 yards from scrimmage and 91 touchdowns over an 11-year NFL career spent with the Colts, Arizona Cardinals and Seattle Seahawks. Among other lines at the Pro Football Hall of Fame ceremony, James told the live crowd and television audience that he was "Inmate No. 336" in the "Canton Correctional Institute." The No. 336 is in reference to him being the 336th member inducted into a Hall of Fame that now includes 354 members. What James proved is that he didn’t become just another statistic. He elevated himself through education and hard work – and he continues to defy odds with his Edgerrin James Foundation, which “helps kids who grew up in the same situation as me, to help them understand themselves and not follow the crowd.” The Foundation offers free football clinics, tutoring and other resources that empower youths to make positive contributions to their communities. For more, see the white paper, ‘Star power, staying power’, which can be found on the UBS Athletes and Entertainers site. Congratulations to Edgerrin on a Hall of Fame football career, and most of all, serving as an example to so many. Main contributor: Joe Melvin UBS Financial Services Inc. or its affiliates and its employees are not affiliated with any 3rd party speakers mentioned IS2104503 Important information: https://www.ubs.com/global/en/wealth-management/our-approach/marketnews/disclaimer.html The product documentation, i.e. the prospectus and/or the key information document (KID), if any, may be available upon request at UBS Switzerland AG, Bahnhofstrasse 45, 8001 Zurich/Switzerland. Before investing in a product please read the latest prospectus and key information document (KID) carefully and thoroughly. Version B/2020. CIO82652744 © 2021 UBS Switzerland AG. The key symbol and UBS are among the registered and unregistered trademarks of UBS. All rights reserved..