Show Notes

EP87: GET UP EIGHT with Brad Brennan, Former Professional and D1 Football Player, Raken Sales Director

About the Guest

Brad Brennan is a former collegiate and professional football player with a deeply rooted background in athletics. Hailing from California, Brad had a noteworthy career as a wide receiver at the University of Arizona and became one of the first Americans to play in Japan’s X League of American football. Following his football career, he transitioned into corporate America, currently serving as the Director of Major Accounts for Raken, a major company in the construction software industry.

Summary

In this engaging episode of “Becoming UnDone,” Toby Brooks sits down with his former athlete and dear friend, Brad Brennan, to delve into Brad’s extraordinary journey from a high school athlete in California to playing professional football in Japan and finally transitioning to corporate America. This episode, filled with heartfelt moments and nuggets of wisdom, explores the adversities Brad faced, including severe injuries and the emotional toll they took, and how he managed to overcome them with sheer determination and grit.

Brad shares insight into his high school days, the unexpected twists in his athletic career, including an inspiring stint in Japan’s X League, and his brief period in the CFL with the BC Lions. Despite recurrent injuries, Brad’s story is a testament to resilience and adaptability. The episode covers Brad’s life lessons from his time under coach Dick Tomey at the University of Arizona, the trials during his professional career, and the eventual transition to his current role at Rakit, emphasizing his undying will to get up after each fall.

Key Takeaways

• Resilience in the Face of Adversity: Brad’s career was marked by frequent injuries, but he continually fought back and remained determined to keep playing, signifying the power of resilience.
• Dynamic Career Transition: Transitioning from professional sports to a corporate role at Rakit, Brad’s journey illustrates adaptability and finding new paths to success.
• Inspirational Coaching and Mentorship: Lessons learned from Coach Dick Tomey at the University of Arizona emphasized trust, camaraderie, and the power of caring for teammates, profoundly impacting Brad’s career and life.
• Cultural and Personal Growth: Brad’s time in Japan not only prolonged his athletic career but also provided a rich cultural experience that broadened his perspective and personal development.
• Unyielding Optimism and Self-Belief: From betting on himself to handling career setbacks, Brad’s story underscores the importance of maintaining self-belief and being open to unconventional opportunities.

Notable Quotes

• “You’re a lot stronger than you think you are. You go down this path and you get slapped in the face and kicked down, and you just have to keep getting up.

• “When I told my dad, I don’t want to do what you did. I’m going to do something different. I don’t know what it is. But for now, this football thing’s been taking me on this crazy journey.”

• “Coach Dick Tomey taught us really, I think, is just that he came from, like, a real sense of love and not being ashamed to love your teammates or your friends and tell them right.”

• “It was a very good moment for me to just be like, okay, reset. This is a little more serious than I thought this was going to be.”

• “Just take the opportunity to do these things, and figure out how to build some grit along the way. These adversities help you build that grit and find a different level to come out of.”

Resources

• Brad Brennan on LinkedIn: LinkedIn

• Brad Brennan on Instagram: @bradbrennan13

• Raken: Raken – The company where Brad Brennan serves as Director of Major Accounts.