We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Dr. Richard Myles Sr. a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Dr. Richard, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. How did you come up with the idea for your business?

The reason I began the Minor Football League (MFL) back in 1993 was to provide an opportunity for young men to develop their football skills and talents in a professional setting, and to provide another avenue outside high school and college. Thus, this was the beginning of the beginning of “the laboratory of change.” As a native Washingtonian, who has the opportunity to be a student-athlete at the highest level in my hometown and then to advance to the highest level of the sport after college, I have first-hand witnessed the joys and perils of football. The NFL, while a dream for many, it’s limited space each year for young men who want to play. I noticed the lack of opportunity and wanted to create access, to solve a problem to a complicated challenge. The MFL was created to expand opportunities on the field and beyond. Also, knowing what athletes mean to their local and respective communities, the MFL was created to also enable another mechanism for people to give back to the community, hence the league’s 100 hours service policy.

I began the league by first creating the concept of a minor professional developmental league and then putting pen to paper. I developed the first draft of a business plan for the league and brought on like-minded individuals who believe in the league’s vision of “integrity, commitment and excellence in all we do.” From there, we began to conduct feasibility studies around the country, and once we identified key areas, we set up combines. The feasibility studies went in-depth to the community’s economic needs, government resources and supports, high school and collegiate athletics, and community needs.

Today, the league has expanded to 16 franchises in America and building partnerships to place 16 franchises in Africa. The league recently underwent a rebrand with all new franchises logos and new strategic growth markets where franchises have been moved. The league recently announced it’s Southern division is expanding in Florida, specifically along the Florida Space Coast in partnership with the Space Coast Black Chamber of Commerce.

The league also provides an opportunity for students through it’s seasonal internship program, and coaching fellowships, allowing hands-on experience to work within a league.

The MFL is celebrating 32 years priding itself on preparing players for the next level and “beyond the field.”

I am glad my life experience enabled me to act on a problem I saw, giving an alternative for young athletes throughout the country and abroad.

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?

Today, I am a business owner, leading the Minor Football League and Minor Football League Foundation, serving as the CEO/Chair and Founder. For over three decades, I have helped to expand the league to reach more athletes and communities. The league provides an avenue for growth for football players and dancers. The league’s athletes participate in a mentorship program for young football athletes, and participate in the league’s seven signature programs working with unserved youth in different communities. I’ve had a chance to discuss the league with everyone from the late great Bruce Johnson of WUSA-9 to Radio One and WOL and WPFW Radio. I often speak on career days at colleges and universities about opportunities with the league.

I also work as a chaplain, leading the league in spiritual guidance and working with community nonprofits and programs to help guide young people in a positive direction.

I’ve also grown as a talent, reflecting on my insight as a professional ball player, now leading two weekly sports shows at the DC Office of Cable Television, Film, Music and Entertainment, “Game Time” and “Inside the MFL.”

Prior to the MFL, I owned multiple businesses in Washington, D.C. ranging from a nightclub to a family-run cleaning and moving service.

I grew up in the inner city seeing my parents work hard, and I always wanted to provide for my family. I learned entrepreneurship early as a high-school father who had my first daughter as a senior in high school.

Today I am a proud father, grandfather, great-grandfather and active community member, with two children that actively served in the military, a legacy continued by some of my current grandchildren. I also have two children who have gone on to create entrepreneurial pursuits and one daughter who has climbed the ranks of local government.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

I’ve had to pivot multiple times in life, but the time that comes up most clearly is when I lost a real estate investment to a business partner who was a friend. I had gotten into a business venture with a friend in local Washington., D.C. real estate to build condos in the city. Being new to the construction world, I gave the money to my friend to buy the bricks for the condo, the windows secure plumbers, and to construct the floors. I was to be in charge of the dig and the demolition. Where the issue occurred, was when it was time to sell the condos, I made a mistake of not accompanying him to pick up the money from the sale of the condos. We were joint owners of the account. I never heard from my business partner again after he picked up the money. He disappeared and I never saw any of it.

Because of this, it put me in a financial bind, which was hard as an entrepreneur who was working to grow the league on my own dime when I was first starting the league. The setback financially made me focus solely on one main thing, which was the league. I learned I have to pay closely attention to all intricate details and to not be as trusting in the business world. I pivoted to making the MFL the main thing and giving that business my core attention. Today, all those who seek to be in business with the league undergo a thorough background check.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

A lesson I had to learn is that not all people have your best interest at heart and you have to be careful with friendships. Not everyone who says they are your friend, is truly your friend. You have haters that exist sometimes, within people you thought were friends.

When I first began the business, all my friends Were excited about me it launch. But when it came time to show support, there was hardly none. No one wanted to invest in the league concept. I heard about folks talking behind my back about my success, though those same folks would smile in my face. I had launched an annual dinner that some tried to sabotage from my own high school. Lots of folks who said they would support them, always made an excuse when it was time.

I had to unlearn thinking everyone around you truly does want to see you succeed. In life there are a lot of folks who will do everything in their power to try to make you a competitor and work to try to disrupt your success. We are our own worst enemies. They don’t have the guts to do what you’re doing but, the first to criticize.

But, that’s when I learn I have all I need. I rely on my Christian values and in God to continue to push forward. I also know it’s not how long you’ve known someone, but how genuine a person is. True character is shown.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.mflishere.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/experiencethemfl
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MinorFootballLeague
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/minor-football-league
• Twitter: https://x.com/mflexperience
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4cfx6wBDR29RqKHGWU4ZgQ
• Other: https://dcradio.gov/programming/insidethemfl/

Image Credits

Some photos by Joy Washington.