The Playbook After the NFL: Markus Wheaton on Business, Mindset & Mental Health

In this episode of Built to Grow, host Ryan Naylor sits down with former Markus Wheaton, a standout wide receiver for the Pittsburgh Steelers, who’s now tackling an entirely new arena: small business ownership.Ryan asks the question everyone wants to know:“What’s harder… the NFL or running a small business?”Markus’ answer sets the tone for a raw, honest, and inspiring conversation about transitioning from elite athletics to entrepreneurship.Markus opens up about:🔸 Living in the moment at Oregon State and never assuming the NFL was guaranteed🔸 Draft-night doubts and the mindset that kept him “always on the rise”🔸 How he built Western Skies Landscaping from the ground up🔸 Early challenges: HOA battles, permits, hiring, sub-contractors, quality control🔸 What he brought from the locker room into business leadership: accountability, ownership, and culture🔸 How working out, connecting with others, and staying curious protect his mental health🔸 The loneliness of entrepreneurship and how to fight it🔸 The transparent leadership style he learned from coach Mike Tomlin🔸 His next chapter: scaling to $4M and building a home-services investment portfolioThis episode is packed with wisdom for small business owners, athletes in transition, and anyone trying to grow personally and professionally. Markus’ mindset, humility, and hunger make this one unforgettable.Follow Markus on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/taewheaton/Western Skies Landscaping: https://www.instagram.com/westernskieslandscaping/Follow Ryan on IG: https://www.instagram.com/ryan.nylr/Follow our Podcast on IG: https://www.instagram.com/built.to.grow.podcast/Learn more about AvaHR and get a free trial of our ATS: www.avahr.comWatch the live Interviews on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@avahrsoftware