🎙️ EPISODE 14: “When the Ball Goes Flat — Identity, Purpose, & the Next Play” w/ Michael Barham

The Vision: Life Beyond the Game This episode dives into the often-ignored space every athlete faces: what happens when the ball goes flat — when the cheers stop, the scouts go home, and identity is left hanging in the balance. Through Michael’s story and strategies, we discover how transition isn’t a crisis — it’s a calling. What started as confusion after high school loss became clarity and purpose when he learned to elevate his influence and guide others beyond sports’ finish line.

Meet Our Guest: Champion of Athlete Elevation Michael Barham — also known as Coach Mike, is a speaker, athletic transition coach, and NIL Strategist from Bessemer, AL. With over a decade empowering athletes and coaches to succeed beyond the court, he now helps athletes build influence, income streams, and purpose off the field through coaching, workshops, speaking, and NIL strategy consulting.

🔥 Core Principles & Episode Highlights

When the Ball Goes Flat: Exploring the emotional and identity shift that happens once competition ends.

Reframing Transition: Why the next play isn’t about plan B — it’s about growing your purpose while you still have your game.

G.R.I.T. Framework: A practical playbook of Goals, Resources, Identity, and Transition planning for lasting success.

Identity Beyond Athletics: How athletes can develop purpose and influence before the final whistle.

Better Highlights Ahead: Shifting focus from past achievements to future opportunities.

💡 Key Takeaway “When the ball goes flat, it’s not the end — it’s a restart. You can create new highlights ahead of you that matter just as much, if not more.” — Michael Barham

🎙️ Watch the full episode: 🔗 https://youtu.be/lVF7JWA1soQ

📖 Go deeper into life beyond the game: 👉 OVERTIME: How to Win a Championship in Life https://bit.ly/overtimeEJKenty

👇 DROP A COMMENT: What’s your “ball went flat” moment — and what will be your next play?

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