That passion was to bring the benefits of sports participation to young people who lacked access to it. She met like-minded people who not only shared her love for sport but also for making a difference. They co-founded Good Sports, an organization that provides sports equipment to children in high-need communities. To date, Good Sports has supported 10 million kids to play and stay in sports.
Calling themselves “a food bank for sporting goods,” they achieved a clarity of mission that allowed them to get buy-in from major sports brands—think big hitters like Nike, Adidas, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Under Armour and Gatorade—that have contributed tens of millions of dollars in equipment that has found its way out of the warehouses and into the communities.
“I think the clarity of mission helped us a lot. Because people understood what we did. When you explain to someone that you’re giving equipment to an organization so that kids in high poverty communities can play, it’s so simple,” Harper explained. “People weren’t afraid to jump on and support us.”
To Harper, that was the critical success factor in the early days, when she might only get two minutes with someone. “How do you make sure that they understand what you do and why it matters?” she noted.
If you are a leader who wants to learn how to make a larger impact through your clearly-defined mission, you have much to learn from Harper’s experience building Good Sports into a national brand. Listen now!
"Don is one of the best storytellers I’ve ever met. I’ve known him for a long time and every time we talk I walk away wiser and more inspired. He is the best in the business at teaching you a skill – storytelling – that will last you a lifetime.”
“The ability for athletes to get hired is carried on through you because you are putting out the message that lessons learned from sports are important in life. It is embedded in this podcast, what you’re doing is significant.”
We speak the same language. I am inspired by the stories you tell, the people you have met, and the things you’ve done. Those of us that are competitors like to follow others that have been down that journey, so it is always fun talking to you!”
“Many of the leaders I have worked with were excellent athletes, and I think there is a direct correlation. You’re one of the few people that really has pursued this study, Don. Keep up the great work. What you are doing really makes a difference.”
“Don, you have mastered the skill of interviewing and asking great questions. That is a great skill all leaders need in order to understand their team members’ thought processes.”
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