We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Mike Shorman a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Mike, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. What sort of legacy are you hoping to build. What do you think people will say about you after you are gone, what do you hope to be remembered for?
Contrast brings clarity. My purpose here is to create, to play, to teach, and to encourage.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
Contrast brings clarity.
My name is Mike Shorman and I started organized adult pickup soccer in Kansas City after returning from Argentina. In 2017, the Argentines did not respect US soccer. Today, we have one as our men’s national team manager.
I am most proud of the soccer community we have built from the ground up. Nobody handed us a check to start this. We have made a name for ourselves by forging forward fearlessly and transcendent self-belief in what we offer.
Can you share one of your favorite marketing or sales stories?
A big leap was securing our first field, Durwood Stadium at UMKC.
A favorite memory was a pickup soccer fundraiser for a flood victim family in Brazil. Rodrigo Sarmento Leite, a local Brazilian, led this fundraising effort. When the Western Union transaction went through to the family, we shared a beautiful moment together.
One thing I learned is soccer can be so much more than ticket sales and revenue.
How do you keep your team’s morale high?
If something is not fun, why bother. We are always joking around, and there are no emergencies. If an external group is helping us accomplish something, we make sure they have fun.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.soccerkc.org
- Instagram: sccrkc
- Twitter: sccrkc
Image Credits
Hector Arrebota