Making Magic: Johnson Heats Things Up Off the Court
Making Magic: Johnson Heats Things Up Off the Court
During his basketball career, Johnson had followed the same route as other star athletes in endorsing products and licensing use of his name. But now he was ready to take on a more prominent role.
Johnson began his move into the business world initially through large-scale property development. Locating inner-city areas that were underdeveloped and neglected by the rest of the business community, Johnson decided it was there that he was going to start building movie complexes. In 1995, against the advice of his peers, the newly formed Johnson Development Corporation partnered with Sony to open the 12-screen Magic Theatres multiplex in urban Los Angeles. It quickly became one of the top grossing movie outlets in the entire United States. Johnson followed up this success with further movie complexes in Atlanta, Houston, Harlem, Cleveland, and Las Vegas. By 1998, revenue from just three of his theatres had reached almost $20 million.
As Johnson’s HIV began to be reduced to undetectable levels, his business career continued to soar. He created five separate companies under JDC, which focused on expanding into retail shopping malls. In 1998, Johnson met with Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz to propose a coffee partnership in inner city locations. Soon, Johnson would become the only Starbucks franchisee in the entire country. He quickly brokered similar deals with T.G.I Friday’s and Burger King.
Things only got bigger from there. Johnson opened up a line of 24-hour sports clubs, and even ventured into the world of Hollywood, becoming executive producer of the film “Brown Sugar.” A talk-show hosted by Johnson never managed to take off, but he continued to delve into the entertainment industry, working with MTV to produce a reality basketball show.
Today, Johnson’s business presence can be felt in all of New York, Chicago, Miami, San Diego, Milwaukee, Dallas, Atlanta, Houston, Cleveland, Los Angeles and suburban Washington. His empire has created more than 10,000 jobs, mostly for minorities, since he first started. Now, his work extends from movie theatres, to talent management, to television shows, to a record label, to even the Los Angeles-based Founders National Bank.
Johnson has solidified his career both on the court and off, becoming one of the most successful star athletes cum entrepreneurs in history. His reputation for always passing the ball to others has carried over into the business world, where he has focused his business ventures on rebuilding underserved inner-city minority communities. With a multi-million dollar empire behind him, Johnson has become a prominent voice for African-American economic empowerment, and he shows no signs of slowing down.
Rumours continue to swirl about his possible entry into mayoral politics in Los Angeles. And, when doubts were raised about his HIV-positive status and his ability to run for office, Johnson had only this to say: “One thing about me is I have unbelievable stamina.”
Making Magic Johnson Heats Things Up Off the Court
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Leaving the game that he loved for so many years was a hard move for Johnson. He tried his hand at coaching, but found it was just not the same. With that, he decided once and for all to turn his attention to other things, namely the world of business.
During his basketball career, Johnson had followed the same route as other star athletes in endorsing products and licensing use of his name. But now he was ready to take on a more prominent role.
Johnson began his move into the business world initially through large-scale property development. Locating inner-city areas that were underdeveloped and neglected by the rest of the business community, Johnson decided it was there that he was going to start building movie complexes. In 1995, against the advice of his peers, the newly formed Johnson Development Corporation partnered with Sony to open the 12-screen Magic Theatres multiplex in urban Los Angeles. It quickly became one of the top grossing movie outlets in the entire United States. Johnson followed up this success with further movie complexes in Atlanta, Houston, Harlem, Cleveland, and Las Vegas. By 1998, revenue from just three of his theatres had reached almost $20 million.
As Johnson’s HIV began to be reduced to undetectable levels, his business career continued to soar. He created five separate companies under JDC, which focused on expanding into retail shopping malls. In 1998, Johnson met with Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz to propose a coffee partnership in inner city locations. Soon, Johnson would become the only Starbucks franchisee in the entire country. He quickly brokered similar deals with T.G.I Friday’s and Burger King.
Things only got bigger from there. Johnson opened up a line of 24-hour sports clubs, and even ventured into the world of Hollywood, becoming executive producer of the film “Brown Sugar.” A talk-show hosted by Johnson never managed to take off, but he continued to delve into the entertainment industry, working with MTV to produce a reality basketball show.
Today, Johnson’s business presence can be felt in all of New York, Chicago, Miami, San Diego, Milwaukee, Dallas, Atlanta, Houston, Cleveland, Los Angeles and suburban Washington. His empire has created more than 10,000 jobs, mostly for minorities, since he first started. Now, his work extends from movie theatres, to talent management, to television shows, to a record label, to even the Los Angeles-based Founders National Bank.
Johnson has solidified his career both on the court and off, becoming one of the most successful star athletes cum entrepreneurs in history. His reputation for always passing the ball to others has carried over into the business world, where he has focused his business ventures on rebuilding underserved inner-city minority communities. With a multi-million dollar empire behind him, Johnson has become a prominent voice for African-American economic empowerment, and he shows no signs of slowing down.
Rumours continue to swirl about his possible entry into mayoral politics in Los Angeles. And, when doubts were raised about his HIV-positive status and his ability to run for office, Johnson had only this to say: “One thing about me is I have unbelievable stamina.”
Making Magic Johnson Heats Things Up Off the Court
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George LudwigGeorge Ludwig is a recognized authority on sales strategy and peak performance psychology. An international speaker, trainer, and corporate consultant, he helps clients like Johnson & Johnson, Abbott Laboratories, Northwestern Mutual, CIGNA, and numerous others improve sales force effectiveness and performance. Though it's George's strategies and processes that help corporations increase productivity and performance, it's his tremendous energy and dynamism that spark the transformation. Again and again, clients remark on his amazing ability to unleash human capacity and inspire men and women to break out of their comfort zones. The result is a whole new type of salesperson. His customized presentations teach achievers to make stunning advances in their lives. From helping salespeople realize cherished dreams to helping corporations exponentially accelerate revenue streams, George Ludwig leaves audiences and individuals empowered, emboldened, and clamoring for more. George is the best-selling author of Power Selling: Seven Strategies for Cracking the Sales Code and Wise Moves: 60 Quick Tips to Improve Your Position in Life & Business. - Visit George Ludwig's Website |
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Cheryl MatthynssensCheryl is a life skills coach, licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor and a 20 year entrepreneur. Cheryl's dedication to achieving a life of balance led to her expanding her teaching from the simple managing of life's daily challenges to adding financial well being as well. A direct marketer with DrinkACT, she is gaining ground in the online community with her concepts of making sure business owners, entreprenuers and employees have well rounded life styles. She opened up a small affiliate site - The Balance Guide- to help others find resources for mental and emotional well being. Visit Cheryl's blog to see more of the diversity beyond business she has began offering online at www.thebalanceguide.blogspot.com - Visit Cheryl Matthynssens's Website |
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David AchesonDavid Acheson is the founder of DCJA Consultancy. DCJA Consultancy is a management consultancy business specialising in B2B sales consultancy. They offer bespoke and packaged sales consultancy including Sales Optimisation Review, Interim Sales Management, Sales & Marketing Review, 1:1 Sales & Management Staff Analysis, Management Training, Solution Sales Training, Creation of New Pay Plan, KPI's, run Customer Feedback Campaigns, assist with Recruitment, Coaching, Appraisals and set up Strategic Marketing Campaigns. David spent his early career in accountancy and then moved into sales in 1982, working in Office Equipment, IT, Advertising, Training, Outsourcing and Consultancy. He has held many Senior Positions in SMBs and Global Organisations including Head of Sales Operations & Head of Business Development. His knowledge, skills and great experience of the Sales Industry has led to David making keynote speeches and running educational sessions to key businesses through organisations including The Chamber of Commerce and Business Link. - Visit David Acheson's Website |
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Linda RichardsonLinda Richardson is the Founder and Executive Chairwoman of Richardson, a global sales training and performance improvement company. As a recognized leader in the industry, she has won the coveted Stevie Award for Lifetime Achievement in Sales Excellence and she was identified by Training Industry, Inc. as one of the “Top 20 Most Influential Training Professionals.” Ms. Richardson is credited with the movement to Consultative Selling and is the author of ten books on selling and sales management, including Sales Coaching — Making the Great Leap from Sales Manager to Sales Coach, and Stop Telling, Start Selling. She teaches sales and management at the Wharton Graduate School of the University of Pennsylvania and the Wharton Executive Development Center. Linda is a frequent speaker at industry and client conferences, has been published extensively in industry and training journals, and has been featured in numerous publications, including The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, Nation’s Business, Selling Power, Success, and The Conference Board Magazine. Learn more about Richardson's sales training and performance improvement solutions at http://www.richardson.com web - Visit Linda Richardson's Website |
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