From Athlete to Entrepreneur: Malik Sneed's Journey to Success and the Importance of Supporting Black-Owned Businesses
Malik Sneed, an entrepreneur and former athlete, sat down with the hosts of the Law of Athlete Podcast to talk about his brand and his journey to success. Malik's brand has gained massive success, but it wasn't always this way. Malik had to work hard, build his brand from the ground up, and learn from his mistakes to get where he is today.
Before diving into his brand, Malik reminisced about his playing days and how he used to compete against Ced. Ced interjected, saying that he was a "bucket" and that they beat Malik's team multiple times. Malik confirmed that Ced was indeed a great player, and Deonte added in some quirks he noticed about Ced's playing style. Tykera chimed in, saying that all athletes have weird mannerisms while playing that they only notice post-game.
Supporting Black Business is important to Malik, and he made sure to emphasize that during the conversation. He feels special sitting down with the hosts, but he wants everyone to remember to support Black-owned businesses. Malik's brand is not meant to be exclusive or limited, but it has sold out on drop days. Malik acknowledged this and explained that he started the business by himself and did everything on his own. Within two years, he was signing five-figure deals to have his brand in physical stores. However, he experienced burnout because he was doing everything solo. Looking back, he wishes he had turned up the heat instead of taking a break.
Malik also had a transparent moment and admitted that he didn't know what he spent the money from his deal on. He started to enjoy the fruits of his labor instead of saving or reinvesting initially. However, he soon realized that he needed to be smart and reinvest in his business and other opportunities. One of those opportunities was the Southside Market, which he invested in early on. Spectators didn't see the value in the venture, but they soon found out the success in having a place like this for different merchants in the area.
Malik started his clothing brand all on his own, but he acknowledges the importance of having a team. Deonte feels that having a solid team has helped him grow his brand, but Malik thinks that early on, he needed to find a process before leading a team. He didn't want to lead people into the dark without having a solid foundation first. However, he allows help where needed and depends on those people when the team is sought out. Being a boss comes at a cost, and Deonte says that it is a lot of hard work. Malik agrees and says that he didn't know what to expect heading into the business. Being an athlete has helped him transition into entrepreneurship because there's a different mindset in how athletes approach things. They're more structured in their approach to life, and Malik thinks that using that way of thinking has helped him succeed.
Malik rounded out the conversation by saying that there is a stigma within the Black community with the way they purchase clothing. They often wait until they see something become popular before hopping on the trend. However, supporting Black businesses and Black culture is popular right now, and it's working to Malik's benefit. He has big plans for his brand, including a physical store, and he encourages everyone to stay tuned for this summer's drop.
In conclusion, Malik's journey to success was not an easy one. He had to work hard, learn from his mistakes, and make smart investments to get where he is today. His brand has gained massive success, and he encourages everyone to support Black-owned businesses. With big plans for the future, Malik is proof that hard work pays off.
Participants Social Media Profiles
Malik Sneed
Instagram: @leeksneed
Deonte Holden
Instagram: @honchoholden Twitter: @DeonteHolden
Tykera Carter
Instagram: @tykera.carter Twitter: @tykeracarter
Ced McFadden
Instagram: @ced.mcfadden Twitter: @ced_mcfadden
01:15 - Guest Malik Sneed jumps right into dialogue with hosts
01:45 - When Ced gets mad, what does he do?
04:20 - “The price gotta go up, Support Black Business”
05:55 - Deonte & Tykera want Malik to drop the gems
16:51 - Southside Market
21:58 - How important is having a team around you?
27:53 - Campaign, the definition
32:28 - It cost to be a boss
35:59 - Free time post athletic career talk
41:23 - House of Herbs
46:06 - Malik talks about creating a good product for people to believe in
48:08 - Build Black Businesses
About The PODCAST
Through the Law of Athlete Podcast, you will get a unique breakdown of the 12 Laws of Athlete. Our mission is to create a framework for success that will empower individuals beyond the game. We welcome a new, diverse group of guests each episode where athletes and industry professionals can connect with their fans and share their point-of-view, aligning their experiences and knowledge with one of our 12 Laws. You will hear from collegiate and professional athletes, business professionals, sport executives, influencers who touch the sport world and more.
