As with any publication, the first few words are always the hardest...so i'll use my first post to lay the ground-work for my blog. My goal is to look at our sport of triathlon from the business perspective. We are not the NFL or NBA, but what we have is something better: we have a target-market that not only makes a lot of money (ave income of an age-grouper is $126,000) but spends a lot of money (50% of discretionary income spent on bike & bike equipment=$2,798 over 12 months; 17% spent on race fees=$564 over 12 months; 11% spent on footwear=$370 over 12 months). Our target market is not the spectators, it is the athletes!
I realized long ago that the numbers are staggering only because i spend it too, but then it hit me...the demographics of a triathlete goes beyond numbers. We are a tight community where respect is just as high for the person who comes in first, as it is for the person who comes in last. We are a community where regardless of your ability, you still have to find the time and energy to train, while still balancing your "real job" with family and home life. We are a community where anyone is welcome, and you're accepted right away.
It is through this community that I realized that I can combine my passion for tri with my passion for business. So for that past 2 years, i have focused my business of portfolio management around a client base of triathletes. I no longer have to play 18 holes with someone and then go for a run after; rather i now go for runs with the co-founders of Ironman NA in Central Park, i make connections at Master's Swim classes, i talk to c-level execs about something other than $$...and i build solid relationships thru our mutual passion of swimming, biking, and running. And "oh, by the way, this is what i do for a living..."
This blog is going to be about the state of our sport and the people & businesses that shape it...enjoy the ride!
