Dhani Jones is an American Entrepreneur and former NFL linebacker and Michigan Wolverine’s where he earned Big Ten honors in three straight seasons. He then spent eleven seasons in the NFL playing for the Giants, Bengals and Eagles after being drafted in the sixth round, the same year as Tom Brady. Dhani started a philanthropic endeavor, BowTie Cause (https://bowtiecause.com/), where organizations come to raise awareness and support for specific causes. He also has jumped into the entertainment realm as the host of Travel Channel’s original series, Dhani Tackles the Globe and appears on CNBC’s Adventure Capitalists. Come hear about Dhani’s path to pro football and how his mom helped get him a chance at a scholarship at Michigan. The support he received from his community, and what it means to show up and do the work. We cover his “aha” moments from the NFL, advice he got from Michael Strahan, and what he learned when he got kicked out of practice. We also get into the current state of our community, America, and the fact that we’ve been forced to take a pause. Dhani speaks about our “moment to make a movement…”, how we face change, and the chance to recognize, regroup, and refocus. Finally, we close with Dhani’s definition of Opti-realism and living courageously through a life of intellect.
Show Notes:
3:10 How many Dhani’s do you know?
6:48 Dhani & Berman meeting in the mean streets of Potomac, MD
8:26 Did Dhani’s dad really do that in high-school?
11:12 Dhani talks about the 3 influence football had on him
13:49 Dhani’s gifted genes - his mom + his dad
14:47 Dhani convinces Michigan to give him a scholarship
18:43 Dhani loves THE University of Michigan
19:52 Showing up + doing the work
21:27 Having people in your corner
23:34 Drafted in the sixth round with Tom Brady
23:57 Aha moments from the NFL
24:42 Michael Strahan’s advice
26:33 Getting kicked out of Bengals practice
27:25 None of us have been in a pressure situation
29:03 The forced “pause” in America
31:34 Is this is moment or a movement?
37:44 On facing change
40:00 Recognize. Regroup. Refocus.
41:41 What type of world does Dhani want for his son?
43:18 Dhani on Opti-realism
44:25 Live a courageous life of intellect