5 Reasons Why Young Black Males Should Focus on Tech Fields Instead of Sports Dreams‏

Better Odds at Success

According to the NCAA, 11.6 percent of college baseball players make it to the pros, while 0.6 percent of high school players do. Young men who play baseball have much better odds at going professional than athletes who play basketball, football and soccer combined, which will send 1.2, 1.7 and 1.0 percent of college players to the pros respectively, and 0.03, 0.08 and 0.04 percent of high school players respectively.

When we look at the opportunity of running a successful business versus having a career in professional sports at all, the odds don’t even compare. The latest Census Bureau statistics show that 69 percent of new firms with employees survive at least two years. An independent analysis by the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that 49 percent of new businesses survive for five years or more.

The statistics show Black males should be more confident they will make it in business than in professional sports. This was consistent across all states and major industries, including tech.

Longer Career

Athletes can see their entire careers dashed by sustaining a single injury, getting burned out, or getting cut when better players takes their spots.

Recent studies have shown the average career length for the four major U.S. sports: National Football League — 3.5 years, National Basketball Association — 4.8 years, Major League Baseball — 5.6 years, and National Hockey League — 5.5 years.

On the other hand, government research into the success rate of startups showed that 34 percent of new businesses survive 10 years or more, and more than a quarter (26 percent) are still in business at least 15 years after being started.

12 Stunningly Beautiful Black Female Scientists

Christina Oney, Ph.D

Angelique Johnson

Angelique Johnson, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor – Business Owner

Institution: University of Louisville
Education: Ph.D.: Electrical Engineering from the University of Michigan; B.S./B.A. in Computer Engineering/Mathematics from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County.

Trivia Frazier-Wiltz

Trivia Frazier-Wiltz, Ph.D.

Chemistry Instructor

Institution: Delgado Community College
Education: Ph.D.: Biomedical Sciences from Tulane University School of Medicine; B.S.E: Biomedical Engineering from Tulane University; B.S.: Physics from Dillard University

Taeyjuana Curry

Taeyjuana Curry, Ph.D.

Postdoctoral Research Assistant

Institution: University of Maryland, Baltimore County
Education: Ph.D. in Physics from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor; Master’s degree in Physics from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Bachelor of Science degree from Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida.

Are You a Wannabe or a Real Entrepreneur? 6 Differences Between Those Who Dream and Those Who Act

Wannabes Obsess About Ideas; Entrepreneurs Obsess About Implementation

Sometimes, we spend an inordinate amount of time talking about our ideas, dreams and aspirations. It is easy to content ourselves with simply having lofty ideas, not realizing their sheer abundance. Anyone who has taken a breath has likely had an idea that could have literally changed the course of his or her life in a revolutionary way. Unfortunately, such ideas rarely get implemented.

Real entrepreneurs overcome their mental barriers, move beyond their comfort zones and spring into action. Wannabes seek a perfect plan. Entrepreneurs execute and adjust the plan later.

Wannabes Want Approval from Family and Friends; Entrepreneurs Embrace Criticism

Some entrepreneurs allow those closest to them — their friends and family — to prevent them from going after their dream of starting their own business.

Meanwhile. others, while they know their loved ones have their best interest at heart,  know uninformed advice and criticism can be more harm than good.

Instead of wasting valuable time and energy being defensive or trying to get approval from those who cannot be persuaded by data, they use criticism to address holes in their business strategy.

Wannabes Focus on Getting ‘Rich’; Entrepreneurs Are in It for the Love

If you perceive starting a business as your golden ticket, think again. Many entrepreneurs who have built massive wealth likely didn’t go into business to get rich. They did so because they had passion for something and kept finding opportunities to expand the way they expressed that passion, and then they realized they could make money doing it.

Entrepreneurs who become rich do so because they love what they do. It has meaning for them, so much meaning that they are willing to do whatever it takes, at weird hours, often at high personal inconvenience and risk, to do it. Making money doing it becomes inevitable.

Wannabes Want to Get on TV and Get ‘Famous’; Entrepreneurs Build Desirable Products or Services

Since the days of the Dot-Com era, many entrepreneurs were treated like pop stars. This has attracted many wannabe entrepreneurs who are more concerned with the spotlight than actually running a successful business.

Real entrepreneurs recognize their natural desire to be recognized, but they don’t think fame is the only form of recognition that validates them. Rather than focusing on becoming famous, they focus on creating something deserving of attention.

Wannabes Hope, Pray and Wait for Their Lucky Break; Entrepreneurs Engineer Multiple Plans and Execute

Wannabes focus on positive thinking, expecting one day their big break will come and things will get easier.

Entrepreneurs put themselves in a position to get lucky by creating the right situations for success by planning for multiple contingencies, therefore, persevering through both the good and bad times.

They also make the right connections, believe in what they’re doing and then seize the opportunities that align with their goals and avoid those that don’t. 

Wannabes Are Discouraged by Failure; Entrepreneurs See Failure as an Opportunity

Wannabes fear looking stupid in front of their friends. Entrepreneurs willingly risk making fools of themselves, knowing that long-term success is a good tradeoff for a short-term loss of dignity.

Entrepreneurs don’t see failure as something to fear. Instead, they see it as an opportunity to expand their knowledge base and a stepping stone to success. Therefore, real entrepreneurs don’t hide their failures and aren’t afraid to expose their ideas to a cold reality as soon as reasonably possible.