Two Careers Nobody Thought Could Connect: Jim Bates on Tennis, M&A, and What Stuck

Jim Bates: From Division I Tennis to Boutique M&A Firm BuilderJim Bates, partner at Jackim Woods & Company and co-founder of Sports Club Advisors, shares how a Division I tennis career, a gutsy career pivot at 28, and a series of recession-forced reinventions led to co-founding the Exit Planning Institute, writing the book on exit planning, and building a boutique M&A firm that serves both lower middle market companies and the sports and fitness industry.Key Insights You’ll Learn:Tennis as a training ground for mental resilience, focus, and life skillsQuitting a thriving tennis career at 28 to pursue an MBA on a coaching stipendLanding in M&A through a friend’s referral — and learning valuations from scratchInventing the exit planning coach process during the 2001 recessionCo-founding the Exit Planning Institute and developing the CEPA designationSlamming the brakes on national expansion when the 2008 financial crisis hitTeaching tennis on the side as business development — two clients from a Tuesday night leagueLaunching Jackim Woods and Sports Club Advisors as one firm with two divisionsManaging wife’s leukemia diagnosis while launching the firm — and grinding through itWhy most business owners aren’t ready to sell and how discovery changes the equationJim’s Key Mentors:His Father: PE teacher and coach who put sports at the center of Jim’s world from childhoodOriginal College Tennis Coach: Recruited him back for an MBA and opened the M&A doorPete Christman and Rich Jackim: Co-founders of the Christman Group who shaped his exit planning philosophy and became his partnerAlan Schwartz (Midtown Athletic Club): Gave pivotal advice that convinced Jim to launch Sports Club AdvisorsTennis Mentor in the Juniors: Modeled how to deliver hard feedback so people still thank you for itDon’t miss this conversation about building two careers at once, what exit planning really means, and why the best business outcomes — like the best tennis points — are won before you ever step on the court.Connect with Jim Bates:Website: Jackimwoods.comWebsite: sportsclubadvisors.netTranscript Available:  Two Careers Nobody Thought Could Connect: Jim Bates on Tennis, M&A, and What StuckWatch on YouTube: Inspired Stories PodcastOur Website: The Inspired Stories PodcastSpecial Thanks to Anthony Codispoti & AddBack Benefits Agency — Providing innovative employee benefits solutions that improve employee well-being while optimizing your bottom line. Website: addbackbenefits.com