Today we’d like to introduce you to Michael Birts Jr.
Hi Michael, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today.
I am where I am today because of my faith in God and my village. My wife, parents, family, and friends have all played a crucial part of my development personally and professionally.
Like most young athletes I had aspirations of playing professional basketball, but that dream faded once I began my sophomore season of playing college basketball. The greatest lesson in my life came from this time because I was able to find myself outside of the game of basketball and realize that I am “more than a jersey number.”
Post-graduation from college and a push from my wife (girlfriend at the time), I enrolled in law school at Florida A&M College of Law and discovered that the business of sports can provide many opportunities beyond just being the “talent.”
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Smooth road? It was not at all, but WORTH IT.
It’s human nature to despise struggling or obstacles, but I have lived for and embraced them.
The struggles I have “embraced” have been:
1. Growing up in one of the most impoverished areas of Miami-Dade County.
2. Conquering the stigma of being only an athlete and nothing else.
3. Failing the Florida bar exam by one point.
4. Having survivor remorse that I accomplished my goals when others were more gifted than me.
The best part during these times, God brought me through every time.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Personally, I consider myself a servant leader because titles mean nothing to me, but to be politically correct, I am an attorney and NBA Contract Advisor. Although young, my practice has grown to include NFL prospects, NBA and G League players, artists, and entertainers. I assist them in all aspects of their day-to-day lives and with development/ protection of their brands. Whether it’s contract review, negotiations with their respective NBA teams, procurement of marketing opportunities, management, or just being a sounding board outside of their respective crafts.
I am most proud of being able to help every client achieve their goals. Seeing a client sign his first professional contract or an artist forming a partnership with a major label has been a blessing.
If I had to pick my “specialization,” it would be client service. As stated, I above, in spite of my professional titles, I consider myself to be a servant leader, and putting my client’s interests above my own is a central focus of my practice.
Can you talk to us about how you think about risk?
To me, there are no such thing as risks because if you have faith and understand that every decision, whether large or small, has a consequence on the other end of it you will be fine.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/michael.birts/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaeljbirts/
Image Credits
Jose Mena
