E5: Jerry Bell on Reinventing Identity After Success

What happens when the thing that defines your identity disappears overnight? In this episode of Closing Remarks, host Dara Shareef interviews Jerry Bell, the former Tampa Bay Buccaneers tight end and CEO of Bell & Associates Business Consultants, to discuss reinvention, resilience, and preparation for life after the point when everything changes. Jerry Bell was drafted by the Buccaneers in 1982 and established himself as one of the most loyal tight ends in the history of the franchise until the unfortunate event that resulted in the termination of his NFL career. However, this was far from the end of the road for him; this incident only served as a prologue to the rest of his life. Having been influenced by the discipline and high expectations of his parents, he received a bachelor’s degree in computer information systems from Arizona State University, obtained his MBA while playing for the Buccaneers, and started working at IBM to be better prepared for life after the sport. In this episode, Jerry discusses the challenges of transitioning from professional sports to business, the attitude needed to reinvent yourself, and the lessons that can be learned by business owners regarding purpose, discipline, and post success life. What You’ll LearnHow Jerry prepared for life after the NFL before his career endedWhat business owners can learn from identity loss after an exitThe mindset required to reinvent yourself after an exitWhy self-worth cannot be tied to one title or careerHow Jerry built a second career in technology and consultingWhy success means more than money or recognition post-success