Shaquille O'Neal knows what you're thinking. You see him on the cover of this magazine wearing a suit, looking dapper and professional, and as much as you like him, you're also groaning a little bit. Another superstar athlete presenting himself as a business genius. It is, after all, fashionable among athletes to parlay one's sports dominance into a global conglomerate, to show that one is as preternaturally gifted in the boardroom as on the basketball court. It's almost obligatory at this point.
But do you really believe it? Maybe you think O'Neal just needs something to do with his time. He's a brand name: He'll do some endorsements, and, hey, good for him. But a serious entrepreneur? Shaq? The guy from Fu-Schnickens? Come on.
O'Neal knows you think this. He might even agree with you.
"I'm not the smartest guy in the room," he tells me, once, twice, a total of 11 times over the span of our conversations. "I'm not coming in here telling people what to do. I'm not trying to run a business. I'm not an investment guy. When I was younger, I would put a million in something and get nothing back. It was just gone. I knew I had a lot to learn. I still do."
This has been O'Neal's thing for decades: Even though he is a 7'1", 300plus pound basketball Hall of Famer and one of the most recognizable humans on the planet, he insists that he is just like the rest of us no better, no worse.
This story is from the March 2023 edition of Inc..
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the March 2023 edition of Inc..
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Karen Dillon
I moved my wedding to attend a company offsite. It was a terrible decision, but a vital lesson on balance.
The Ultimate Home-Based Business
Thirty years since her breakout on Friends, Courteney Cox is taking on a new role-entrepreneur.
An Uphill Battle
Zwift has been through layoffs and a leadership change in 2024, but co-founder and CEO Eric Min says he's learned that building a startup, like cycling, is an endurance test.
The GLOW UP
How Glossier broke free from DTC, survived the skeptics, and finally achieved profitability.
The Snack That Gives Back
With a new partnership, SkinnyDipped is supporting women founders worldwide.
A New Path to SuCCESS
AllTrails may have achieved the impossible-an app that truly helps you get away from it all.
The Back-lash Survivors
Don't challenge Elizabeth Gore and Carolyn Rodz to a game of highs and lows. The Hello Alice co-founders will win-by a long shot.
The Spa Surge
Prime IV Hydration & Wellness has successfully weathered stormy waters.
Riding the Waves
With Beehiiv, Tyler Denk built a buzzy newsletter platform and a brash online persona. Both are lucrative.
Home Economics
How Chairish brought the circular economy to furniture.