Meet michael stone | Former NFL Player and Current Partner in National Academy of Athletics

We had the good fortune of connecting with michael stone and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi michael, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
As a NFL player I realized very early that I was only paid when I performed. The better I performed the more money I made. When I got injured my job was in jeopardy. This realization pushed me to seek opportunities for ownership very early on. When you own something you make money off the asset instead of being the asset. This intrigued me and thrust me into the world of business ownership.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
I am proud to be a part of the launch of the National Academy of Athletics franchise for multiple reasons. During my 7 years in the NFL I gained a clear understanding of the position that professional athletes have in the hearts and minds of kids. Seeing the looks in kid’s eyes as I signed autographs or interacted with them made me realize the opportunity that I had to inspire. When I met Aaron Locks, founder of National Academy of Athletics and his team I immediately fell in love with the brand and the mission. It wasn’t long after that initial meeting that I joined the founding team and began to play a role in shaping our sports programming and the internal systems needed to facilitate them. Over the past 6 years, we have worked to perfect our processes and procedures for franchising. Our franchise launch represents a culmination our my experience in the NFL and my personal brand into a franchise concept that anyone in America can team up with to inspire kids in their home towns.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
If I had a friend coming to Atlanta I would definitely take them on a tour of all of our outdoor spaces. I have lived in a lot of places and none can compare to Atlanta when it comes down to outdoor socializing. The first spot I would take them to would be the beltline with all the bars, restaurants and people walking and riding down the path. After that, I would take them to hang out in West Midtown at Puttshack, Holiday Bar (outside) and to all the restaurants and bars on that side of town. If they are into nature and it’s the summertime I would take them tubing on the Chattahoochee. As far as night spots, I would probably end the day by taking them to Rock Steady Restaurant and lounge for the food and vibes.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I want to shout out my parents. My parents have been business owners since I was a small child and I literally experienced the ups and downs of their business in a way that taught me how to understand those waves and not to fear them. When things got tight I remember our holidays getting tight and my parents working longer hours to make ends meet. When things were good I can also remember our moving from Detroit’s inner city to a surrounding suburb. Our lifestyle was dictated by the business’s performance for many years.

Website: nationalacademyofathletics.com

Instagram: @mstone44

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mstone44/