By Nolan Hart
Have you ever heard of the book The 48 Laws of Power by Robert Greene. Even if you haven’t, or don’t remember a single law, Greene’s work influences you. It’s impossible to notice a single effective ad campaign or public figure’s viral story without seeing one or more of the power laws at work.
For example, Fortune 500 companies sponsor charitable efforts every day of the year. Why? Greene’s third law tells us: “Conceal your intentions.” What is the intent behind sponsoring an event? To sell products, of course. Is that fact concealed from the sponsor advertisement? Often, yes.
Remember former President Trump? Who could forget! Hate or love his legacy, you have to admit he understood the sixth law well: “Court attention at all costs.” The day this article was published, President Biden had held office for five months. Yet every day, talking heads in the media are still talking Trump. That’s attention.
When I picked up The 48 Laws of Power for the first time, I wondered if Greene just made these laws up. Turns out, no. He’s a student of history. He distilled thousands of years of civilization, achievement, warfare, and scandals from all over the globe down into forty-eight principles present whenever a person or organization influences another. If you want to wield power, defend against attacks, or grow your own empire, that’s the book to help you do it.
We need the same industry-standard guide for student-athletes. So many young players are drifting without any understanding of how to leverage their own performance into income. With the NCAA finally loosening restrictions on name, image, and likeness for the 2021–2022 season, athletes have more potential for power than ever. And with 2kPAID, our new livestreaming-meets-membership platform, they can get a jumpstart on that earning when we go LIVE on August 1st.
Is that it? Join 2kPAID, get paid? Well, yes. But for student-athletes who want full control over their career moves and earning potential, it’s wise to know how we make it all work for you.
And that’s exactly what this new online series will do.
2kPAID presents: The 48 Laws for Student-Athletes.
In this eight-part series, we’ll explore the unwritten rules that govern the court, the athletics department, and the scouting team. We’ll teach players how to turn their favorite sport into a lifelong career even if they don’t go pro on draft day.
It’s time to educate players on how much power they hold in their hands. Let’s go!
Law #1: Student-athletes offer unique value.
You’re not just another player. Every athlete brings something unique to the game. And not all athletes are made the same.
When you walk out on that court, what are you bringing with you that no one else can match? For Larry Bird, it was a commitment to fundamentals. Michael Jordan was the best scorer the league has ever seen. And now there’s you, ready to make your mark with your own brand. What will you be known for?
Everything you put out, from your nose to your toes, should reflect that you know there’s no one like you, and you aren’t here to hide it. So find what you’re truly best at and what makes you unique. Embrace it. And share it.
Law #2: If predator agents and deceptive contracts can take advantage of a student-athlete, they will.
If there was no money to be made in sports, people and organizations wouldn’t try so hard to take it.
I’m not only talking about professional salaries. We all know there’s huge earning potential in autographs, pictures, and jerseys. With the rise of the NFT market, you can turn images and videos into collectible memorabilia like never before.
That means the sharks will circle like never before, too. You need to stay smart and keep control of your intellectual property — namely, you. Everything that belongs to you can benefit you, but it will also attract agents and bad actors looking to shackle your potential with bad contracts.
Stay smart. Keep control.
Law #3: Pay respect to the people who helped you get here.
There is no “I” in “player.” You didn’t get this far all alone, and you aren’t going to make it by yourself. Parents, coaches, and trainers have sacrificed for your career so they could see you make it.
Honor their sacrifice. Remember their pride in you. It’s not enough to throw them a wave from the court. Respect them with your presence, with your attention, and with your behavior even when it’s not directed toward them.
Don’t make these people ashamed for having supported you. And don’t ever let them believe you’ve taken their sacrifices for granted. Everything you hope to have someday is built on the foundation they laid down for you. Respect that.
Law #4: Honor the legacy of the game.
You may be young right now. You might have your whole future ahead of you. It probably doesn’t feel like you’re ever going to get old.
But you will. Someday you’ll graduate high school, or leave college, or move on into the next phase of your life. You’ll go to get up from your chair and groan for the first time. We all get older.
When you see other players who are past their prime, don’t look down on them. Honor them. Those who played the game well are your role models to look up to. They set a bar for following players to surpass them. And many of them struggled under conditions you won’t have to face, like draconian NCAA rules that shackled them for their entire career.
Honor those who came before you, so that you too will be honored when your time passes.
Law #5: You earned this.
You’ve worked harder than anyone else knows. You’ve dripped blood, sweat, and tears and still pushed through them to find your strength on the other side. It’s time the world recognizes that and pays you what you’re due.
As of July 1st, 2021, many states are relaxing rules against players earning money. The NCAA has plans to ease restrictions further prior to the 2021–2022 fall and winter season. And 2kPAID wants to help you make money in unprecedented ways from work you’ve already put in.
It’s OK to work hard and sweat. You’re not doing this for organizations anymore. This is for you and your family. You’re working for your own future.
Law #6: Stay close to your vintage class.
On court, it’s war. Off court, you’re in this together.
The player who pretends he’s a self-made man is the player who has no allies when times get tough. You can’t win a game all alone against the opposing team. And you didn’t make your name famous without teammates watching your back and setting up your most memorable shots.
When the world opens up and your class scatters, remember who had your back. Find them in the future. Make each other stronger as you go.
Once a teammate, always a teammate. That’s the code.
Sign up for 2kPAID early to be updated when 48 Laws for Student-Athletes Part II drops.
